Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 8: Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association (AWWA), affiliated to Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has demanded release of pending salary and required enhancement in the J&K share to the honorarium being paid to them.
Urging Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene for release of their salary and conceding other demands, the Association also threatened to start agitation if no positive action is taken on their issues.
While addressing a press conference, here today, BMC Organizing Secretary, Ashok Choudhary said that Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are being paid Rs 600 and Rs 300 per month, respectively with no increase since the year 2010.
“Even as the Centre share was increased by Govt of India in 2018, the State share has not been revised till date,” he said and informed that neighboring States were presently paying almost 10 times more state shares in comparison to J&K.
Ashok Choudhary further said that the honorarium from April 2022 till date has not been released while the arrear on account of enhanced Centre share was also lying for several months.
The Anganwadi Association also demanded 100 percent promotion to Anganwadi Workers to the rank of Supervisor. “Since the Government of India has adopted new education policy and it is proposed to convert Anganwadi Centres to Pre Primary schools, we demand that Anganwadi Workers who have requisite qualifications must be considered for post of Teachers in such proposed new schools,” said Ashok Choudhary.
The Association also demanded extra allowances for doing work of different number of schemes, retirement benefits and social security schemes for Anganwadi Workers/Helpers.
The press conference was also addressed by Neelam Sharma (General Secretary BMS), Swarna Choudhary and Roshu Sharma President and General Secretary AWWA, respectively, who appealed the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and direct the concerned higher officials to release the pending salary and also accept other demands.
“We would have no option other than to start agitation of no positive action is taken on our demands,” they threatened.