Srinagar: Anganwadi workers on Monday protested in the summer capital, Srinagar, demanding release of pending wages since 2018 and inclusion in incentive programme announced by the administration for frontline health workers dealing with COVID-19 patients.
The All Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association (AAWHA) also wrote a letter the Advisor to Lt Governor, J&K, urging him to mitigate their problems, including release of pending wages and arrears.
Scores of Anganwadi workers assembled at Press Enclave in Srinagar on Monday and demanded that their wages, which are pending from last about three years, be released immediately.
Raising slogans, the workers also demanded inclusion in incentive programme announced by the J&K administration for frontline health workers dealing with COVID-19 patients. “We have been at the forefront of fight against COVID-19 and other initiatives launched by the government from many years. However, when it comes to getting our dues, we have been left out in the open to fend for our serves,” AAWHA president Tasleema Subhaan told UNI.
She also said that they have been promised regularization many times in the past, but so far no initiative has been taken by successive government in this regards. “On top of this, we have not received our wages from last about three years. How are we supposed to take care of our families,” she said.
“The workers will be left with no option but to stop working if our demands were not met,” she added.
Meanwhile, the association in the letter to the Advisor to Lt Governor highlights to issues confronted by them, including pending wages and exclusion in the incentive programme for frontline workers.