Patiala, January 23
The Democratic Employees Front (DTF) staged a protest in front of the old bus stand and burned an effigy representing the Andhra Pradesh government. They demanded the withdrawal of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) imposed on Andhra Pradesh’s anganwadi workers, who have been on strike for over two months demanding a wage hike and better working conditions.
Addressing a gathering at Nehru Park, federation general secretary Vikramdev Singh, district president Gurjit Ghagga and secretary Harmeet Patiala said that anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh have been on strike for close to three months, demanding an increase in their wages, recognition as government employees, and a fulfilment of other demands. They added that instead of fulfilling their demands, the government has imposed ESMA on them. They said that it was unfair to the employees as the government had failed to implement the minimum pay scales and, to rub salt on their wounds, laws such as ESMA have been imposed against them.
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