Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: A large number of Anganwadi workers and helpers of ICDS Projects today held protest demonstration and dharna outside Divisional Commissioner’s office at Rail Head complex here today.
Under the banner of J&K Trade Union Front, the ICDS Anganwadi workers and helpers from various centres assembled near Panama Chowk in the morning and then from there moved to the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal to lodge their strong protest. Asha workers in large number also joined them.
They were projecting their demands and shouting slogans against the higher authorities in the department for ignoring their issues.
President of J&K National Trade Union Front Mohd Gafoor Dar, Anganwadi Workers Association leaders Mehajbeen and Ratna Devi besides others also addressed the gathering and urged upon the Government to solve the pending issues of the ICDS workers. They also alleged that workers and helpers are facing exploitation and unnecessary harassment at the hands of their senior officers.
They pointed out that workers are getting very meager wages and remain unpaid for the months together for the reason best known to the senior officers of the department. For the last over six years, there was no hike in their wages.
They further said that ICDS Mission Directorate was created about two years back but no new recruitment rules have been framed. The process of promotions has been stopped since long and many Anganwadi workers who are graduates or undergraduates and have rendered over 20 years of service are still waiting for their promotion.
The workers were demanding regularization, enhancement of wages, framing of rules for ICDS workers and amendment in recruitment rules.
Several senior trade unionists also joined the protest and addressed the gathering.
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