Anganwadi workers continue their hunger strike.
Nasir Khan Central Kashmir Bureau Chief
Copyright Nasir Khan
Srinagar:- Anganwadi workers continue to be on hunger strike for the fourth consecutive day at Press Enclave here to press for their long pending demands.
Pertinently, police had detained several Anganwari workers on Wednesday and had forced them to leave the Press Enclave.
On Thursday, however, these workers again assembled and staged a peaceful sit-in.
The protestors led by Tasleema Subhan, Haseena Sofi and Naseema Kuchay said that they would continue the strike till their demands are met.
“We demand enhancement of salary to Rs 10,000 per month for Anganwadi workers and Rs 8000 to helpers,” said Tasleema Subhan, President Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association.
Copyright Nasir Khan
She said that besides enhancement of their remuneration and payment of minimum wages, they also demand gratuity, formulation of a pension scheme and withdrawal of attempts to privatize Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), promotion of senior Anganwadi workers to supervisors and grant of SRO 144 in case of death of employee.
The protesters were also demanding regularization of their services as Class III and Class IV employees and immediate increase in their honorarium to Rs 5,000 and Rs 4,000 per month respectively.
They were also demanding release of training grants in favour of the workers and helpers without any delay and release of travel allowance and DA for attending different meetings like pulse polio and Aids Awareness Programmes.
They also demand that retirement benefits be given to them in the form of pension and Rs three lakh to Anganwadi and Rs two Lakh to helper at the time of their retirement.
