Govt clinches deal with two anganwadi unions

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1

To end more than 10-day strike by anganwadi workers, the state government today clinched a deal with two of their unions, even as two other unions that enjoy the maximum following kept a distance. Sunita Dhiman, general secretary, Anganwadi Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, confirmed the talks with Principal Secretary (Women and Child Development) Raja Sekhar Vundru were successful.

The sangh is which is affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a trade union affiliated to the RSS. “The state government has agreed to give wages of skilled worker (Rs 11,429) to anganwadi workers, that of semi-skilled workers (Rs 10,286) to mini-anganwadi workers and 60 per cent of this amount to anganwadi helpers,” she said.

Another union of anganwadi workers owing allegiance to the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) participated in the talks and signed the deal.

The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union led by Santosh Rawal was also invited for today’s talk, but its representatives staged a walkout in protest against government’s “rigid” attitude.

Rawal told The Tribune she had pressed for wages of highly skilled workers (Rs 12,900) for anganwadi workers and that of skilled workers (Rs 11,429) for mini-anganwadi workers, but officials did not agree. “They were rigid,” she claimed.

The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union led by Jagmati Malik that has been refusing to scale down its demand from Rs 18,000, which they maintain is the minimum salary of a government employee, was not invited for the talks.

Malik alleged, “The BMS-backed union does not have any following among anganwadi workers, but a few BJP workers. Our strike and protests will continue as announced.” Principal Secretary Vundru, however, said more than 70 per cent of anganwadi workers were covered under today’s deal and hence he was confident that the strike would end.

“This is a significant development for anganwadi workers. For the first time, they will be getting wages instead of honorarium which will entitle them to several other benefits such as PF and health services. Further, the wages are linked to the wholesale price index (WPI). Hence, wages will keep increasing with the increase in prices,” he added.

Two other unions stay away 

• The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union led by Santosh Rawal was also invited for talk, but its representatives staged a walkout in protest against government’s “rigid” attitude
• The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union led by Jagmati Malik was not invited for the talks
• It has refused to scale down its demand of monthly wages if Rs 18,000, which it says is the minimum salary of a government employee