The protesting Anganwadi workers need to be heard. They have several complaints. These include roll back on the controversial order, release of pending salary and also providing salary in time, enhancement of wages of the workers and helpers.
Their protest started against increasing their working hours from four to six per day. The scheme is entirely sponsored by the Centre, and they demand that the guidelines provided by the Centre should be made applicable in their case in letter and in spirit. There is no enhancement of their wages. Their salaries are not paid in time. Even according to existing norms their minimum salary should have been rupees 11000 per month. Why should the State Social Welfare Department issue an order of changing the hours of work when the scheme is fully funded by the Center and also the rules are provided by that agency? Anganwadi workers are a link between the administrative structure and the people in the State. Instead of improving their lot in terms of employment and other facilities, adopting arbitrary attitude in dealing with them is not advisable. We would appeal to the Social Welfare Department to handle their case with sympathy and a touch of humanism.
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