Anganawadi workers to stage hunger strike on May 4

Mangalore, April 25: Dakshina Kannada Anganawadi workers and Helpers' Association (DKAWHA) will stage a one day hunger strike in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on May 4, said Association president Aruna Puttur.

He told reporters here that the protest was planned followed by an insult made by the deputy director of Woman and Children Welfare Department, who refused to accept a memorandum by the abganawadi teachers and helps on the International Women's Day this year.

“The deputy director had not come forward to accept our memorandum, which we had planned to submit after a protest march from Ambedkar Circle to the Town Hall in the city,” she explained.

She accused the government of showing step motherly attitude towards anganawadi workers while releasing honorarium and other allowances.

“There is no single allowance mentioned for anganawadi workers though they work from 9 am to 4pm, she added.

The honorarium which is less in company to other workers' salary is released without any criteria, she said adding that they get the money once in two or three months.

“The workers in rural areas travel many times to banks to check whether their salary has been credited, but return with a sad face,” she added. Association member Jayalakshmi said that the anganawadi workers in Puttur taluk have not received the honorarium for four months since December.

She said that the workers are almost doing social service without a proper sources of income to look after their families. The demands of workers have not been fulfilled by the state or the Union governments though several attempts have been made to bring it to the notice of the officials concerned, she added.

Association secretary Vishalakshi pointed out that the sufferings of all anganawadi workers are known to all officials of the Woman and Child Welfare Department. “But, their negligence has disturbed the mindset of the workers,” she feels.