4th State conference of Anganwadi workers, helpers held in Srinagar

Srinagar, Jun 25: A daylong 4th State Conference of Anganwadi Workers, Helpers was held in Srinagar on Saturday which was attended by hundreds of delegates across the Kashmir region.
According to a statement, the conference was inaugurated by Usha Kumari President of All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWAH).
The conference expressed serious concerns over plight of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers of the region. Maimoona Mollah leader of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) greeted the conference.
Addressing the conference, General Secretary All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers expressed shock over the insensitivity of the J&K administration and Government of India towards the plight of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers of J&K where the honorarium these scheme workers is being since last so many months.
Central government has drastically cut down the allocation for ICDS in budget. BJP government has imposed four labour codes to deny the basic rights of minimum wage, right to work for 8 hours and negate the pension and gratuity to the majority of the working class. Hard earned rights of the labour class are being reversed through repressive measures, the General Secretary said.
Addressing the conference, Usha Kumari President, All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers stressed upon the Workers, Helper the need to build strong organization at village level in order to force the government to act upon the long pending demands.
She also urged the government to immediately implement the recent Supreme Court order on gratuity to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers. The workers and helpers were asked to do many activities in the name of POSHAN ABHIYAN without paying any money instead the supplementary nutrition is being cut down.
The conference demanded good quality supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, and health facilities to all the children of J&K including those of migrant workers. The conference also demanded Haryana pattern of wages with annual increment and pension and gratuity benefits to these scheme workers.
The conference discussed in details the need of improving facilities of Anganwadi Centres in Kashmir. The workers, Helpers who have performed COVID duty by putting their lives in risk were not given any risk allowance, even the workers who died during the pandemic duty were not given any compensation as promised by the central government.
The conference decided to observe demands day on 11July 2022 at Block, District level. It also decided to join Maha Padav of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers at Delhi on 26-29 July,2022 under the banner of All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWAH) and Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU).