By: Jahangeer Ganaie
Anantnag: Scores of Anganwadi workers and helpers on Monday requested authorities to issue their pending arrears of last three years besides that they must be allowed to purchase their uniform themselves.
The workers and helpers said that in 2018, the government announced to enhance the honorarium; however, even after the passing of over three years, the announcement is yet to be fulfilled on ground.
“From October 2018, no arrears have been released as of now and for a few months, both centre and state funds are yet to be released,” said Fehmeeda Akhter who is heading Anganwadi helpers and workers association in South Kashmir.
Fehmeeda while thanking LG lead administration said their pending salary was released till ending August this year but arrears of dozens of months are yet to be given to them which must be released at an earliest.
“Anganwadi workers and helpers are being treated with utter contempt by the government,” said another worker, adding that despite all government schemes being implemented, anganwadi workers and helpers are being denied the meager wages for months together.
“Whenever department provides us uniform, it is not worth wearing, so the government must provide us the amount so that we can purchase our uniform ourselves,” he said.
Many workers and helpers besides supervisors said that higher ups have recently asked them not to take up their issues with high ranking officials.
“If we won’t bring it (issue) in their notice then where will we go,” they said. “We have been asked to get consent from CDPO to meet higher officials, but how will CDPO permit us to meet higher officials.”
“Despite bringing the issues in notice of higher ups many times nothing is being done on ground. We once again request concerned authorities to look into the matter at an earliest so that we won’t suffer any more,” they said. (KNO)
