Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: Anganwadi workers and helpers today staged a strong protest demonstration demanding pensionary benefits for them after retirement from the service.
Hundreds of Anganwadi workers and helpers working under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme today assembled near Press Club Jammu under the banner of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Union (AWHU) and held protest. Holding banners and placards in their hands, they raised slogans against the Government and in support of their demands.
Protesting workers and helpers urged the J&K Administration to enhance their honorarium at par with the adjoining states of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. They said that there should be no retirement of ICDS workers till retirement benefits including gratuity of Rs 4 lakh per worker and monthly pension is provided.
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Instead of changing the names and designations of workers as well as helpers, the delay tactics and meager wages policy needs to be changed, they said and appealed the LG administration to provide gratuity of Rs 4 lakh and pension to them after retirement from the service.
Speaking on the occasion, president of the Union Suman Suri demanded that every Anganwadi workers and helper who has attained the age of 60 years be given a lump sum amount of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively on or before her disengagement. She further demanded old age pension of Rs 3000 per month for workers and helpers on attaining age of 60 years on the analogy of BPL old age women.
Suri further urged the authorities not to disengage Anganwadi workers and helpers, who have permanently shifted out of their wards or villages after their appointment and instead adjust them in adjoining wards or villages of their present place of residence, against the posts falling vacant due to disengagement of above 60 years workers and helpers.
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