Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: Anganwari workers and helpers of various projects of Jammu division under the banner of J&K National Trade Union Front organized a protest demonstration in front of Divisional Commissioner’s office, here at Panama Chowk to press the State Government for immediate solution of their genuine demands.
Hundreds of workers and helpers assembled in front of Divisional Commissioner’s office and raised slogans in support of their demands, urging the State Government to enhance their honorarium at par with the adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, where Rs 10,000 are being paid monthly honorarium to the workers.
The protesting workers said that the State Government is utilizing the services of Anganwari workers and helpers in more than one dozen departments and central schemes regarding implementation of various schemes and projects but it is very unfortunate that the Government never bothered to enhance its state share to improve the economic condition of Anganwari workers and helpers.
“The honorarium of Anganwari workers and helpers has not been increased for last 10 years whereas the price rise of essential commodities has crossed all the limits and the poor workers and helpers are not in a position to feed their families”, they said.
While addressing the protesting workers, Mohd Gafoor Dar, State president, J&K National Trade Union Front, condemned the anti-worker policies of the State Government and ICDS higher authorities, who are just shedding crocodile tears for the welfare of the workers and not settling their genuine demands, which include enhancement of honorarium of Anganwari workers and helpers at par with other states and regularization of Anganwari workers and helpers who have completed 10 years of service.
The other demands of the workers are fixation of final seniority lists and holding of immediate DPC meeting to clear all the pending promotions of supervisors, implementation of New Pension Scheme in case of Anganwari workers and helpers, provision of gratuity at the time of retirement at the age of 65 years and implementation of free group insurance scheme.
Later, the protesting workers took out a procession from Panama Chowk to the office of Director ICDS Mission, Jammu and submitted a memorandum of demands.
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