Cops halt anganwadi workers’ march to meet Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Ludhiana police stopped anganwadi workers from heading towards a hotel to meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll, anganwadi workers, under the banner of Anganwadi Workers Union, today staged a protest on Ferozepur road near Punjab Agricultural University to press for their demands.

Later, the protesters began marching towards Hyatt hotel, but were stopped by the police. After which, they started raising slogans against the state government. Following this, Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal paid the protesters a visit and accepted a demand letter from them.

The union’s district president, Harjit Kaur, and All India Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Federation president Usha Rani said the Social Welfare and Women and Children’s Development Department had adopted a forceful attitude of taking work from anganwadi workers without giving them proper equipment, which would not be tolerated.

They also alleged that poor quality food was being provided to them for distribution among beneficiaries. Moreover, the newly introduced KYC and mobile face recognition system was posing problems in their work as 80 per cent of the beneficiaries, which included pregnant women and breasting mothers, did not have smartphones.

Further, they alleged that the Centre had released funds twice for the procurement of smartphones to aid anganwadi workers in completing essential digital task, but the state government had not released the money till date.

They also said that before coming to power the AAP had promised to double the wages of anganwadi workers and helpers. Despite these commitments, no such changes had been implemented.

Further, they claimed that the government’s decision to open pre-primary classes had also reduced the strength of children in anganwadi centres. They demanded better infrastructure and supply of pre-school kits.