Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Jan 5: Urging upon the Government to fulfill the demands of Anganwari workers, helpers, ASHA workers, Mid-Day Meal workers and CPWs, senior CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami today asked these workers to participate in country wide strike against the insensitive attitude of the Government on January 20.
In a statement issued here today, the CPI(M) leader said that Government has done injustice towards these workers and their demands should be fulfilled now. “Anganwari workers and helpers working since 1975 under ICDS Scheme are getting meagre 3,000 and 15,00 per month. Neither any pension scheme is available for them nor Government has awarded them anything for their services,” he said.
Tarigami said that Government last year while presenting the budget had declared that there will be an enhancement of Rs 500 in the honorarium of these workers but the order was never implemented. “Govern-ment makes tall claims when it comes to the welfare of the women but the reality is that injustice is being done towards 40 lakh workers,” he said.
He said that though the Supreme Court of India has passed directions for the welfare of these workers neither the UPA nor the NDA honored those directions. “To some extent Kerala Government have done justice towards these workers where these workers get Rs 7,000 to 10,000 as monthly salary but the Central Government have done nothing. The irony is that Government has no hesitation in awarding Rs 1.14 crore Corporate Loan but has nothing for these helpless workers. These workers are the soul and spirit of Health Department that play crucial role in rural areas and yet are being deprived form incentives,” he said.
Tarigami said that neither honorarium has been increased for the workers working in PWD nor their services have been regularized. “Now Central Government is going to present 2017 Budget and to attract the attention of the Government towards the plight of the workers, a country wide protest would be organized and all workers should participate in it. If there will be nothing for these workers in the new budget then again on February 2 a country wide protest would be organized,” he said.
He urged upon the Government to implement the recommendations of 45th Indian Labour Conference and besides providing all security benefits government should offer least Rs 18,000 monthly salary to these workers.
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