CPI-M Legislator M Y Tarigami today batted strongly for fulfilling the demands of Aganwari workers by the Jammu and Kashmir government and releasing their wages pending for more than six months.
"The insensitive approach of the state government towards the long pending legitimate grievances of Anganwadi workers and helpers is unfortunate. Their demands should be fulfilled," he said.
He also demanded "release of wages in favour of Anganwari workers and helpers pending for more than six months".
Flaying the government for "not heeding to the concerns of workers under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)", Tarigami cautioned that such attitude has created uncertainty among the workers and helpers.
"More deplorable is the attitude of the department towards the helpers who are assisting supervisors but now are being treated as surplus after working for years together," Tarigami said.
These helpers who have greatly contributed in making the scheme viable in the state have been pushed to the wall and the state government seems to be insensitive towards their well-being, the CPI-M MLA said.
"Many of these workers have crossed the age limit and now face critical situation of losing their livelihood," he said, adding the department should ensure that their livelihood is not put at stake and initiate urgent measures for absorbing them in the scheme," Tarigami said.
"Not only the state government should regularise these workers and helpers but it should also pay them incentives as is being done by Haryana and Kerala governments," he added.
Tarigami also sought attention of the government towards the long pending demands of the ICDS officials for allocation of adequate funds (especially enhancement in state's share) for universalisation of ICDS to cover all children below six years of age in the state.
Regularising ICDS and recognising Anganwari workers and helpers as Grade III and Grade-IV government employees with minimum wages of Rs 15,000 should be acceded to without any further delay, he said.
