Anganwadi workers to boycott pulse polio drive

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 10

Following a number of strikes over their long-pending demands, anganwadi workers have decided to pull out of the pulse polio drive that will start tomorrow.

As the anganwadi workers have decided to boycott the polio campaign at the eleventh hour, the district Health Department will arrange things with the help of nursing students.

Hargobind Kaur, president, All-Punjab Anganwadi Mulazam Union, said, “We have given a statewide call for boycott the pulse polio drive. All union members are instructed not to be a part of it. There may be a few anganwadi workers who are not part of the union may render services.”

Kundan Pal, District Immunisation Officer, said, “Only a few anganwadi workers will not be part of the campaign while a majority of them will render services during the pulse polio drive. We have made arrangement to depute nursing students at different booths.”

There are 300 anganwadi workers in the city and around 1,500 workers in the district who have been protesting for the past couple of weeks over pending demands, including hike in salaries and release of funds for anganwadi centres so that they can pay the rent.