Anganwari workers block road, cane charged by police

Police dispersing the protesting Anganwari workers and helpers from the site of protest near Dogra Chowk, Jammu. —Excelsior/Rakesh
Police dispersing the protesting Anganwari workers and helpers from the site of protest near Dogra Chowk, Jammu. —Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 22: Continuing their protest for enhancement of wages, Anganwari workers and helpers of various projects of Jammu division under the banner of All J&K Anganwari Workers and Helpers’ Union (AWHU) today blocked the road near main Tawi bridge and disrupted the traffic movement.  Click here to watch video
A large number of Anganwari workers and helpers belonging to various districts and ICDS blocks of Jammu region assembled this morning at Exhibition Ground and started raising slogans in support of their demands. They criticized the ICDS authorities for ignoring their demands.
Later, the protesting workers in the form of a rally moved towards Tawi bridge and blocked the road leading to the bridge for about two hours. The workers disrupted the vehicular traffic completely following which police resorted to minor lathi charge on the protesters and restored the vehicular traffic on the road. In the lathicharge, some Anganwari workers sustained minor injuries and they were hospitalized.
Earlier while addressing the employees, Suman Suri, State president, AWHU, criticized the Government for its anti-worker policies. She demanded that all those workers who have completed 10 years in service be regularized, their wages be enhanced and honorarium of the workers pending for the last 8 months be released.
She further demanded fixation of final seniority list of Anganwari workers and conduct of DPC without any delay, implementation of new pension schemes in favour of workers and helpers, keeping provision of gratuity at the time of retirement at the age of 65, implementation of free Group Insurance scheme, etc.
Suri pointed out that there are about 60,000 Anganwari workers and helpers in the State, who are working on the meager salary while their counter parts in Delhi, Harayana and Punjab are getting Rs 10,000 and Rs 6000 (helpers) per month.
“In view of rising prices of every commodity, the Anganwari workers and helpers of the State are facing lot of problems but the State Government never bothered to enhance their wages for the last 10 years”, she added.

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