Furious over the callous approach of the State Government for not fulfilling a year long pending demands of association, scores of Anganwadi workers staged protest in Dehradun on Saturday.
The agitators have also threatened to intensify their agitation, if their demands were not met by the State Government in the given time frame.
Hundreds of furious Anganwadi workers gathered at Parade Ground on Saturday morning and took out rally in support of their pending demands.
After considering the huge strength of the agitators, the Anganwadi workers were not allowed to cross the lansdowne crossing, Dehradun as barricades were placed by the city police.
Highly infuriated over the step taken by city police, the agitators and the city police had verbal tussle at the spot. The agitators also shouted anti-Government slogans during their protest.
The agitators also lamented that the despite the fact the memorandum highlighting their demands was given many times to Government officials and public representatives, steps are yet to be taken by the State Government to fulfill their year long pending demands of the association.
The workers have been demanding from the Government to declare them Government employees, timely promotion, summer and winter vacation, pay anomaly, pension are among the pending demands of association.
According to them, all those villagers who are living in the remote areas of the State have been receiving best and the round the clock medical assistance due them due to acute shortage of medical officers in the State.
The agitators also expressed their concern over the issue that it has turned extremely difficult for them to earn their livelihood and they even traverse several kilometers to benefit the masses in the absence of the proper medical and health facilities in the mountainous parts of Uttarakhand.
Addressing the gathering, Rekha Negi, Uttarakhand Anganwadi Workers Association said that Anganwadi health workers play pivotal for the implementing of all national programmes in the different parts of the State.
She said that members are in mood of decisive show, this time. According to her, despite giving assurance to the association members that their year long pending demands would be fulfilled, the State Government is yet to take effective steps for redressing their grievances.
They also cleared that they will stage statewide protest in case their demands are not met by the State Government in the given time frame.
Rajbala, Jyoti Bala, Rajni Upretti, Urmila Negi, Yasoda, Bala Bhatt, Vinita, Neelam Pokhriyal, Anita Joshi, Neelam Paliwal, Reena and many more were also present.