Protest by anganwadi workers enters 88th day

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 26

The protest by anganwadi workers and helpers on Thursday entered its 88th day. Braving the heat, the workers have been protesting since January 29.

“Roads and markets wear a deserted look since the temperature is being recorded at around 41-42 degree Celsius. We are ready to continue our protest till the time our demands are met,” said Hargobind Kaur, a protester.

She said for the past 88 days, the workers and helpers had been sitting round the clock on the dharna in front of the office of Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal. These workers had been coming from Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Barnala, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka and other neighbouring districts to participate in the stir.

“Unlike other organisations, we have not been getting any financial help from anyone. The anganwadi workers and helpers have been spending money from their own pockets. They are making arrangements for tents, mattress and food on their own. We are ready to spend money on our protest till government accepts our demands,” Hargobind Kaur said.

The anganwadi workers rued that though they had been staging the protest continuously, no meeting had been fixed with the Finance Minister to discuss their demands. Elaborating on their demands, the workers said they wanted that their salaries be increased on the pattern of their Haryana counterparts.

The protesters added that the state government should completely go away with its decision to start pre-primary classes in primary schools. They said the anganwadi centres be allowed to teach and feed the children in the age-group of 0-6 years.

They are also demanding a life insurance cover for the workers and helpers in case of a mishappening while preparing the food for the children and grant for paying the rent of the buildings from where the centres are being run.