IIOJK: Anganwadi workers protest; seek regularization, wage-hike
Jammu: Anganwadi workers and helpers of ICDS wing of the Social Welfare Department held a strong protest in Jammu and other districts of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in support of their pending demands of regularization and hike in their wages.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a large number of Anganwadi workers and helpers, under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union assembled at Indira Chowk, Jammu, today and started a protest demonstration, followed by sit-in for several hours.
Senior trade union leaders, Babu Hussain Malik, Yash Pal Sharma and Madan Sangral from Jammu and Kashmir Govt Employees Joint Action Committee (R) were leading the protest.
Mahajabeen, president of Jammu and Kashmir Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union and other office bearers- Renu Sharma, Zahida Parveen, Sunita Dewan and Shivani Sharma expressed strong resentment over the step motherly treatment with the Anganwadi workers and helpers.
They said Anganwadi workers are working on a meager salary of Rs 5,000 per month and helpers on Rs 3000. They have to perform work in different departments even beyond their duty hours. Moreover, they have not been regularized.
They expressed grave concern over the fact that these workers have been deprived of the benefits given to their counterparts in other States and Union Territories. The speakers at the sit-in site strongly projected their demands of providing Rs 15000 per month wages to the Anganwadi workers and Rs 10,000 to the helpers.
