Anganwadi workers protest colleague’s sacking

Members of the Anganwadi Workers’ Union Punjab (CITU), led by its president Harjot Kaur Panjola, held a dharna in front of the DC office to protest the termination of services of a worker by the Ajnala Child Development and Project Officer (DCDPO).

Addressing mediapersons, Panjola said the Punjab Government forced anganwadi workers to work in flood-hit areas without providing them with facilities, including mobile phones. She said the worker, who refused to work due to lack of resources, was sacked by the Ajnala CDPO while allegedly abusing his rights.

The dictatorial attitude of the officer would not be tolerated, she said while asking the department to take strict action against the CDPO and reinstate the anganwadi worker.

Union national president Usha Rani, general secretary Subhash Rani and finance secretary Amritpal Kaur said the new rules had been implemented and some officials were misusing these to harass anganwadi workers. They asked if the Punjab Government had not yet provided resources, then no official had the right to terminate the services of a worker.