Anganwadi workers raise concern over appointment of supervisors

Bathinda, June 23

Members of the All Punjab Anganwadi Union have raised concerns over the appointment of supervisors by the Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children. They have written to the concerned to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

They had also raised concern over the appointment of supervisors in the department in 2015. They had alleged connivance of department officials in the same.

Hargobind Kaur, president of the union, said, “Under a scheme of the Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children, as many as 286 anganwadi workers were promoted to the post of supervisor in 2015. A number of workers who were promoted in the year had submitted qualification degree certificates acquired from other states. The matter was raised by the workers at that time but department officials without verifying the certificates promoted workers and allotted stations to them.”

She said, “Many workers were promoted in 2015 by intimating them that their certificates  will be verified later and if any anomalies were found, legal action would be taken. But nothing was done later. Deserving and qualified anganwadi workers, who were not promoted even, moved court and sought legal assistance. They even wrote letters to the senior officials of the department. The officials were in deep slumber for a long time, but around six months ago, they had scrutinised the documents and qualification certificates of supervisors, but no concrete action has been initiated in the matter till now.”

The union members alleged that while eligible candidates for promotions are running from pillar to post and working on low salaries, these supervisors, who got promoted through “unfair” practices, are getting Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 monthly salaries.— TNS