Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Dozens of Anganwadi workers today protested against the Government for its failure to enhance salary, promotion of senior Anganwadi workers to supervisors and grant of SRO 144 in case of death of an employee.
The workers holding placards in their hands during a protest march demanded dignity and better service conditions.
The protesters also shouted anti-Social Welfare Department slogans for neglecting the role of these gross root level workers of the department and demanded enhancement of salary on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh and Karela State Anganwadi workers.
“We demand enhancement of salary to Rs 10,000 per month for Anganwadi workers and Rs 8000 to helpers per month,” said Mymoona Nazki, president Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association, Kashmir Province.
She said: “Despite handling so many responsibilities including surveys, pulse polio campaign, electoral duty and other relevant activities apart daily duty hours in Anganwadi centers, we have to rely on meager monthly honorarium and that too is disbursed after six to seven months.”
Terming the Government’s casual attitude towards these employees as exploitation of human resources and violation of labour laws, the protesters said they can’t tolerate it in future and threatened to go for hunger strike cum mass ‘dharna’ if the Government fails to fulfill their genuine demands.
“We will stage protests in Jammu city on December 11 and after that we will stage protests outside Parliament in Delhi,” said Om Prakash State Secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
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