Anganwadi workers go on hunger strike

Bathinda, August 3

Members of the All-Punjab Anganwadi Employees’ Union observed a hunger strike in support of their demands in front of the mini-secretariat complex on Friday.

The strike was in continuation of the protest they have been observing for the past few weeks.

The protesters said, “Even as the state government had given us assurance that a notification with regard to increase in pay structure would be issued on July 31, but nothing has been done till now.”

Hargobind Kaur, president of the union, said, “As announced, the government has not issued notification to increase the salaries of anganwadi workers till now. July 31 was fixed as the date to issue notification, but three days have passed and no notification has been issued till now.”

“As per the notification (if it is issued), the salary of an anganwadi worker will increase by Rs 1,000 while that of a helper would increase by Rs 500. We waited till Thursday and then decided to go ahead with the hunger strike. If the government doesn’t issue notification in this regard, we will intensify our protest in the coming days,” Kaur added. — TNS