Agitated Anganwadi Workers Pin High Hopes on Governor

A delegation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union from Jammu met Governor Satya Pal Malik on November 8. The intention behind the meeting was to apprise the governor of their long-pending demands and the state’s “neglect” towards it. The delegation of workers raised several issues ranging from regularisation of jobs to minimum wage grade.

As per reports, the workers demanded that the honourarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers may be enhanced to Rs 10,000 and Rs 6,000 respectively. Moreover, they have reportedly asked for provision of 10 per cent GPF/PPF in their favour – Rs 5 lakh to Anganwadi workers and Rs 3 lakh to helpers on their superannuation, 15-day-winter vacation and 45-day summer vacation in Anganwadi Centres.

Besides, Anganwadi workers have asked for promotion and block-wise seniority list. According to a report in the local newspaper, they have demanded “Hundred per cent promotion to the post of ICDS supervisors be made from the category of Anganwadi Workers, the termination orders issued with respect to temporary workers having completed 90 days or regular unbreakable service be withdrawn, block wise seniority list of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers be prepared and DPC held once a year, promotion strictly as per seniority, regular payment of rent, carriage charges, and charges for online submission of reports many be assured and outstanding payments released at the earliest”.

Read more: Jammu Anganwadi Workers Protest Meagre Wage Hike

For a long time, Anganwadi workers and helpers have been protesting against the meagre salary hike. “When we protested, our honourarium was raised by only Rs 500. Is this what we deserve for all the work that we do? For the work we do, we should be paid equal to the pay of the government employees. We have raised this before governor, and we believe that he will consider our demands,” said an Anganwadi worker.

“After talking to the governor, we felt relieved. We were assured that our demands will be looked into. We have raised the issue of promotion and the seniority list. We are expecting a positive response,” said another worker. The governor has reportedly applauded the Anganwadi workers for their work, and have assured that their demands will be looked into.

No salary given to Anganwadi Workers in Kishtwar

Meanwhile, Anganwadi workers from Kishtwar district have not been paid their due salary for past six months. As per the workers, the block centres have received the salaries, but it has not been released to the workers. “There is no explanation given to us. They say that we didn’t work, but we have been working and intermittently, have been on strikes. Basically, they are scared of our demands, and this a new way to suppress our voice. They don’t want us to protest. They want us to keep quiet,” said an Anganwadi worker on the basis of anonymity.

Another worker told Newsclick, “We are more than 40 women and we haven’t received our salaries. We don’t do what to do about it. We have been asking the department but there is no response.”