Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: The protest dharna of Anganwari workers and helpers demanding withdrawal of their termination order issued by State Mission Director, ICDS, entered into 4th day here at Press Club.
Hundreds of Anganwari workers and helpers under the banner of J&K National Trade Union Front (JKNTUF) are on dharna for last four days to oppose the termination order of Anganwari workers and helpers who have been working in the ICDS for last more than 10 years and have got departmental training of Anganwari workers for three months and also other required courses in the ICDS wing.
The protesting Anganwari workers and helpers raised slogans against the ICDS authorities for issuing the unlawful and unjustified order for termination of these employees, who were engaged in this Centrally sponsored scheme and were continuously working in ICDS to make this nutrition programme successful.
The protestors said that those who have been terminated are in thousands and their appointment and to follow the proper procedure was the responsibility of the authorities who during this long period miserably failed to fulfill the required procedure for no fault of poor Anganwari workers and helpers.
While addressing the protesting workers, Mohd Gafoor Dar, State president, JKNTUF, highlighted other demands like enhancement of honorarium of Anganwari workers and helpers to Rs 10000 and Rs 5000 per month, respectively; removal of pay anomalies of ICDS supervisors at par with their counterparts in other states of the Country; etc.