The protesting Anganwadi workers have stated that if the State Government is unable to meet their demands now, the issue should at least be raised in the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha.
According to State president of Anganwadi workers association, Rekha Negi said, “We are asked to click selfies when we feed children and have to show our work record of 21 days. If coincidentally any worker is on leave on the 21st day, our allowance of 20 days is deducted by the Government. From elections to population census, every work is done through us and our Government could not even take the pain to explain its side to us. We are not forcing them to increase our allowances if they can’t, all we want is that our proposal be presented in the upcoming Budget session but they couldn’t care less to communicate with us.”
Anganwadi workers are furious over the attitude of the Government towards their work. One of the reasons, according to the protestors, is that the Government itself is not aware of the work they do in multiple fields.
According to Anganwadi worker Seema Rawat, “I have heard that it is being said about Anganwadi workers that we just watch children for three hours and that’s it. People who think like this are in fact not aware of the diversity of our work. We have to keep the record from the time of pregnancy of a woman till her child is six years old. We contribute in pulse polio campaign, Women and child development population census, child malnutrition survey and especially during the election.”
“The time of the election, whether it is State or Central, is the busiest for all the workers. Sometimes we do not get to go our home before nine in the evening. The Government gives us deadlines and even make us work overtime but they are saying what do we do to deserve the raise in our allowance? We may or may not get things according to our demands, but at least some authorities will know the extent of our work through this protest. If they think Anganwadi employs do nothing then just shut the Anganwadi projects”, added another Angnwadi worker Sangeeta Nautiyal.
One of the protesters, Priyanka Prajapati said, “I am a widow and I have two kids. Does the government realise how hard it is for a single mother to raise kids with the mere sum of Rs 7000? I don’t even expect the Government to increase the allowance substantially, at least make our wages Rs . 400 per day. I work all day for Anganwadi and I do not know anyone who hires people to do work in the evening so that I can do something else for additional payment. At least the Government should think about widows who have families to support.”
On the support of the former Chief Minister and senior congress leader Harish Rawat, Rekha Negi said, “It doesn’t make any difference to our situation as people from different parties are coming to speak here and we also understand that they have their own motives.
Ex CM came among us on his own and we could not insult him by forbidding him to express his thoughts”
Even after the protest of around two months, the State Government has not initiated any sort of communication with anganwadi worker.
Till now six women- Savita Sharma, Shashi Thapa, Manorama Nautiyal, Neelam Paliwal, Bhagyashree Uniyal and Pinky Negi have been hospitalised by police while Anju Chand and Vidya Devi are carrying on the fast unto death at the protest site.