Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 29: The Anganwadi workers and helpers today blocked the busy Maulana Azad road here for about half an hour and threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if their demands are not fulfilled.
Protesting under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association, hundreds of protesters took a protest rally from the Pratap Park, marched towards the main thoroughfare and blocked it. The traffic came to a brief halt but the protesters dispersed peacefully after half an hour.
The protesters raised slogans against the State Government for not increasing their honorarium. For the last two months, the protesters are demanding hike in the salaries for Anganwadi workers from Rs 3600 to Rs 10000 and for Anganwadi helpers from Rs 1800 to Rs 8000. “We are protesting peacefully for last two month but authorities are unmoved. We were forced to come on the roads as none is listening to our genuine demands,” Tasleeema Subhan, president All Jammu and Kashmir Anganwadi Association said.
The protesters said the State Government is providing Rs 600 for helpers and Rs 300 for workers and an extra honorarium is provided by the Central Government. “We are demanding maximum honorarium of Rs 10,000 for workers and Rs 8,000 for helpers,” Indress Akhter, a protester said.
Another protester said: “we have worked for the State, but it is unfortunate that we are being neglected by the Government.”
The protesters said that besides doing the Anganwadi work, “we also perform duties of the Health Department, Education Department and Social Welfare Department and are not paid for the extra work.
Follow our WhatsApp channel