The BJD on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP asking it to stop misleading Anganwadi Workers of Odisha and confirm the amount of salary being paid to these workers in the BJP-ruled States.
“The BJP must inform what is the remuneration of Anganwadi Workers in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh,’’ questioned BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deo at a Press conference here.
Deb said the BJP propagates something and does something else. “We have increased Anganwadi Workers’ remuneration by Rs 500 in 2008, again by Rs 500 in 2013 and now by Rs 2,000. What amount has the Centre hiked in these periods though the programme is Centrally-sponsored, he asked.
He appealed to the protesting workers to refrain from the agitation. “Most of their demands were fulfilled and the Government is aware about other demands. They should immediately join duty because important services like newborn and mothers’ care are carried out by them,” he added.
In reaction, BJP State vice-president Samir Mohanty said the State Government is hoodwinking the Anganwadi Workers and passing the buck to the Centre. Any responsible Government does not shift responsibility to others, said he.