Anganwadi workers to organise dharna in Shimla tomorrow

Anaganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (AWHU), affiliated to Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a meeting held here on Saturday decided to organise a dharna and protest in support of their demands outside director education office in Shimla on Monday.

Anaganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (AWHU), affiliated to Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a meeting held here on Saturday decided to organise a dharna and protest in support of their demands outside director education office in Shimla on Monday. AWHU state president Indira Thakur and district president Sumitra Thakur said anganwadi workers and helpers were being paid nominal and the state government was not ready to deposit its share with the centre government funds to enhance their salaries on par with the Punjab and Haryana state governments.

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Sumitra said anganwadi workers and helpers retire without pension and provision for health and education of their wards.

“AWHU members are an instrumental force in implementing Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDCs), but surprisingly except anganwadi workers and helpers every employee in the ICDC department is getting handsome salary, perks and benefits,” she added.

She said their demands were to give pension for the workers and helpers and establishment of contributed welfare fund and salary on par with the Haryana state pattern of `7,500 to the worker and `3,500 to the helpers, retirement age should be extended up to 65 years and funds should be raised to run anganwadi kendras (centres) in proper and hygienic space of government own buildings.