Admn begins process to grant compensation

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, December 2

Aanganwari workers and helpers today started indefinite chain hunger strike outside the office of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Jalalabad.

Anganwari secretary of the state unit Sunil Kaur Bedi, Harjit Kaur, Asha Rani, Krishna Rani, Kailash Rani, Gurjeet Kaur, Janak Rani, Chand Kaur and Surinder Kaur sat on the hunger strike.

Workers were demanding hike in salary to Rs 7,500 per month and helpers Rs 4,000 per month, besides gratuity benefits and pension. They said during their meeting with the state government representatives on March 2, 2013, they had agreed to increase their wages.

The police officials tried to persuade the protesters to lift the dharna but they refused to relent.

They said their agitation would continue till the fulfillment of their demands. The CPI and CPM have expressed their solidarity with the employees on strike. Hans Raj Golden, district secretary of the CPI, said: “The government is exploiting the workers by paying them meager salary.”