ON DEC 20: AI Aanganwadi Workers and Helpers Union Punjab to gehrao Parliament

Ferozepur, December 18, 2012:  All India Aanganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, Punjab staged protest against the centre government under the leadership of Punjab President, Saroj Chhapriwala and Senior Vice President, Charanjit Kaur.

Saroj said, “Central and State governments are exploiting the Aanganwadi workers and helpers by not paying the minimum wages even by getting the work more than normal duty.  Centre government is giving Rs.3,000 to Aanganwadi workers and Rs.1,500 to Helpers whereas the Punjab government is giving Rs.1,600 and Rs.800 per month, respectively”. 

She further said, despite passing a sufficient time, no efforts have been made to increase in the wages of the Aanganwadi workers and helpers whereas it is the responsibility of the governments of every government, from time to time.

She also said, to modernise the Aanganwadi Centres, a budge was also approved in February 2012 by the Centre but neither the buildings have been constructed for the centres nor the rent has been increased.  There is also no enhancement in uniform and fuel allowances and instead of implementing the decision as per the budget 2012 already passed in this, a cut is being put with one or the other reason. In such circumstances, there is a need to put a pressure on the centre government for accepting the demands.  In this context, the All India Aanganwadi Worker-Helpers Union (AITUC) would geharo Parliament in Delhi on December 20 to register the protest at the national level, after organising dharnas at block and district level.

She said, all arrangements have been to organise December 20 programme and the agitation would continue till such they get justice and their exploitation is stopped.

Seema Rani, Surinder Kaur, Paramjit Kaur, Charanjit Kaur, Kanchan Rani, Skhwinder Pal Kaur, Sonia, Kiran and Joyti Bala also spoke.