Sir,
“The Government which governs the least is the best Government but the Government which cares the least can’t be rated so”.
Though the plight of women has attracted few eyes in the past but for Anganwadi workers/helpers it is still the same situation. Anganwadi workers and helpers are on strike for about 6 months. The poor lady workers who run the anganwadi centres at grassroots levels in the villages are demanding increase in their honorarium. They are paid meagre amount of rupees 3500-4000 for anganwadi helpers and workers respectively. Their demand for increase in their honoraria is more than justified on the following grounds:-
They are grassroots level workers implementing the social sector core scheme of providing nutritional support to the malnourished children between the age of 0-6 yrs and are doing yeomans service to the nation. Healthy children means healthy students who can excel in innovative education thus leading to a nation of healthy and well educated people.
AWWs and AWHs are also seen conducting surveys regarding age and health of adolescent girls, lactating mothers and pregnant women. These AWWs and AWHs are also seen helping and immunising the children on the immunization days fixed in the Government. PHCs/ health centres and health sub centres and schools. These AWWs and AWHs are serving as agents of change for empowering the women, children and adolescent girls.
Salary of all Central and State employees is increased by 20 percent to 25 percent, then why discrimination with these female employees which amounts to gender discrimination. Such type of gender discrimination is against the principle of “Equality before law” enshrined in our constitution. What sort of women empowerment can be brought if women employees are being ignored for increase in their honoraria which is justified on all accounts.
I as the pleader of cause of gender equality and women empowerment request the concerned authorities to settle their demands which is not a big issue in this era of high salaries.
Dr Neerja Kahi
Village Payan (Akhnoor)
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