Even as Anganwadi workers’ indefinite dharna here entered the 25th day on Friday, the State Government was yet to respond favourably to their demands.
Hundreds of workers under the banner of the All Orissa Aganwadi ladies Workers’ Association have been sitting at lower PMG since September pressing for fulfilment of their various demands, including salary hike.
The demands include a hike in their minimum pay to Rs 18,000 for Workers and Rs 9,000 for Helpers per month, a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month, status of Government employees, a revised insurance policy and its immediate implementation, Government benefits and others.
“We have a 12-point charter of demands. All the Aganwadi Centres will continue to remain closed till the demands are fulfilled,” said association general secretary Sumita Mahapatra.
Mahapatra said, “While this 17-year-old Government is claiming to be providing work to villagers and ensuring respect to women, what respect the Government is giving to the Aganwadi Workers is well witnessed here in the State capital!”
Every day, Anganwadi Workers of different districts are staging dharna, added she.
Mahapatra alleged, “The State Government is not giving importance to the Anganwadi Workers, who have been working for the Government in providing basic healthcares like contraceptive counselling and supply and nutrition, education and supplementation as well as pre-school activities in the villages.”
As per reports, in May this year, the Government had assured the workers to sort out the issues within two months’ time.
But no step was taken towards this even after three months, following which the workers had to stage their cease-work agitation.
“After a discussion in May this year with the concerned Minister, the Government had taken two months’ time to sort out our issues.
However, they have turned a deaf ear to our demands even after three long months,” said an Aganwadi Worker.