Thousands of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers under Sanjukta Morcha of Anganwadi Employees Union, Odisha, on Thursday took out a rally from the Master Canteen to the lower PMG where they held a dharana pressing for an 18-point charter of demands.
They demanded a hike in their allowance to minimum Rs 18,000 per month, minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month, status of Government employees, promotion to supervisor posts, implementation of quota in appointments of ANM, primary teachers and all village level employees, revised insurance policy and its immediate implementation, etc.
The leaders lamented that though the Anganwadi workers and helpers are working for the effective implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the far flung rural areas, yet they are deprived of minimum dues and facilities. Though they have been demanding for a hike in their remuneration over many years, both the Central and State Governments have acted as mute spectators and ignored them by shifting responsibility on each other.
They alleged that the rulings of the Supreme Court and circulars of the Parliament Standing Committee on several matters concerning the welfare of the Anganwadi workers and helpers were not executed.
Among others, who spoke on the occasion include AITUC general secretary Souribandhu Kar, Bijaya Jena and Hapriya Swain of Nikhila Odisha Anganwadi Karmi Sangh, Judhistir Maharana and Pravasini Padhi of the Paschim Odisha Anganwadi Karmi O Sahayika Sangha and Namita Panda and D Bijayalaxmi from the Odisha Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association.
They submitted a memorandum to the Women and Child Development Minister and warned to intensify their agitation, including an indefinite dharana before the Assembly, if their pay was not hiked during the ongoing Monsoon Session.