Anganwari staff protest in Manpreet’s village

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, February 19

Anganwari workers held a demonstration at Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s native Badal village here today. They raised various demands, including funds for anganwari centres and seeking back children of pre-primary classes who were recently sent to government primary schools.

However, their attempt to protest outside Manpreet’s house was foiled by the police.

Anganwari workers alleged that there were no women constables deployed and the men in uniform misbehaved with them.

Hargobind Kaur, president, All Punjab Anganwari Employees’ Union, said, “We have been demanding a meeting with Manpreet Badal and lodging a protest in Bathinda from the past 21 days. However, he has not met us till now. Though some members of our union had gone to meet him in Bathinda yesterday, he did not listen to them and even held the hand of one of our colleagues. As a protest, we burnt his effigies at a number of places across the state. Besides, the Centre has released Rs 100 crore for anganwari centres in the state, but the Congress government has not released even a penny.”

She alleged, “Policemen displayed high-handedness by snatching the keys of my car and the cell phone of my driver though these were later returned to us. There were no women constables deployed.”

She said the union would intensify the protest if their demands are not met.