Workers seek hike in wages

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 1

While workers under the left-wing trade union, CITU, today took a pledge to oppose and defeat the “anti-worker” parties in the Lok Sabha elections, for Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, mid-day meal and construction workers, increase in their wages remains a poll issue.

Hemi Devi, an Anganwadi worker, said a worker and a helper got paltry Rs 6,250 and Rs 3,800, respectively, as their monthly salary without any other benefits. “Is it possible to support a family of six members with these paltry wages?” she asked, while participating in the Labour Day celebrations.

There are more than 38,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers in the state. “We work for more than eight hours and implement health schemes at the village level, but we do not have any social security,” lamented Kamlesh.

The plight of 12,000 ASHA (accredited social health activists) and 24,000 mid-day meal workers is no different. “The government has promised us Rs 2,000 as wages per month, but most of us are not getting it so far,” said ASHA workers.

Mid-day meal workers said they were getting meager Rs 2,000 per month. “We do not have any social security or other benefits. We work whole day in schools,” said a worker.

Workers under MGNREGA said they did not get work for even 50 days and were paid Rs 170 per day. The government had increased the minimum wages to Rs 225, but it remained unimplemented, they rued.

Workers said the parties made promises to increase wages during the Vidhan and Lok Sabha elections, but never fulfilled them. The minimum wages for workers should be Rs 18,000 per month, they demanded.

Vijender Mehra, state CITU secretary, said: “Workers took a pledge that they will oppose the BJP, which has been giving benefits worth several lakh crores to corporates, but not doing anything for the welfare of the workers.”