Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: Anganwadi workers and helpers of the ICDS wing of the Social Welfare Department have demanded enhancement of their wages/ remuneration on the analogue of Punjab and Haryana.
Talking to media persons here today, president of Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association Swarna Choudhary and general secretary Roshu Sharma, pointed out that wages of the workers are not being paid on time and moreover, these workers and helpers are unpaid for the last four months. The authorities concerned are not bothered about the release of funds for the remuneration/ wages of the workers and helpers who are facing starvation. Not only this, their salary from January 2019 to March 2019 has also remained unpaid till date. The ICDS officers have even not paid their carriage charges since 2020 till date for the reasons best known to them.
The Association leaders further pointed out that J&K has not enhanced the state share of Rs 600 per month since 2010 while all other states like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi have given reasonable hike. In Haryana, Anganwadi workers are being paid Rs 4500 as Centre share and Rs 7500 as State share, and total Rs 12000 wages per month; Delhi Govt is paying Rs 10,000 with Rs 4500 as Centre share while Punjab Govt is paying Rs 8500 per month with Rs 4500 as Centre Share to the Anganwadi workers. They strongly demanded that their State and Central share be revised on the pattern of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.
They demanded that extra allowances/ incentives be given to the Aganwadi workers and helpers as they are performing various other tasks assigned by the Government. They also demanded retirement benefits, gratuity, social security, leave salary etc in favour of these ICDS workers.
They declared that all the ICDS workers/ helpers would hold strong protest demonstration near Press Club Jammu on December 23 at 11 am in support of their demands. They sought intervention of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha into the matter.
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