Anganwadi workers seek pay hike

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 17

To extend their support to the strike by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), members of the local unit of the Anganwadi Workers’ Union Punjab staged a protest here today.

In favour of their demand for pay hike, they also submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, to the Child Development Protection Officer (CDPO).

Addressing the gathering, leaders of the union said anganwadi workers were being exploited across the county. They said these workers and helpers, under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), were working to save children from malnourishment and safeguarding them.

The protesters said the workers also play an important role in curbing death rates and preventing children in the age-group of 0 to 6 years from falling prey to diseases like polio.

They said the anganwadi workers were forced to work on very meagre salaries. The union members said after coming to power, the Modi government had failed to fulfil their major demands.

They added that the BJP had promised to strengthen the ICDS scheme as well as increase the allowance of workers under the scheme, but there had been no hike in the allowance of the workers till date.

They demanded that the recommendations of the 45th labour conference be implemented, workers be brought under the minimum wages ambit and Rs 18,000 to workers and Rs 10,000 to helpers be paid.

The protesters demanded that besides providing benefits of social security, Rs 3,000 pension and gratuity be given to them.

‘Union govt failed to fulfil demands’

• Addressing the gathering, leaders of the union said anganwadi workers and helpers, under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), were working to save the children from malnourishment and safeguarding them. 
• The protesters said the workers also play an important role in curbing death rates and preventing children in the age-group of 0 to 6 years from falling prey to diseases like polio. 
• They said the anganwadi workers were forced to work on very meagre salaries. The union members said after coming to power, the Modi government had failed to fulfil their major demands.