ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Apr 21:The state capital’s infamous traffic snarls were at its worst on Friday as an Anganwadi workers rally in the heart of the city choked the already congested capital roads for nearly an hour. 

Touted to be the biggest ever rally about 4000 Anganwadi workers from every nook and corner of the state gathered early this morning at Akashdeep ,Ganga at around 9 am. Chanting slogans, the workers held a mass rally covering almost 5 kilometre distance to show the government, the plight of Anganwadi workers dedicatedly serving in remote and extreme difficult areas for the welfare of society despite poor service conditions. 

At starting point at Ganga, President, All Arunachal Pradesh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union,Yasi Nalo Sonam interacting with reporters clarified that the rally was a show of solidarity to workers who despite  odd working conditions have been rendering  their services round the clock for development of the state and to push the government  to do more for the workers community. 

She informed that delegates from all Anganwadi centers across the state voluntarily arrived at the capital city to attend the state level conference and to celebrate the foundation day of the AAPAW&HU to be held at Chimpu on Saturday. 

Also highlighting the plight of Anganwadi workers, Sonam said “We are ground level workers and backbone of all government sponsored schemes, but despite our valuable services we are paid very little amount of 3000 per worker since last 39 years.” 

Pointing at the rising  prices of essential commodities in contrast with their almost stagnant wages, Sonam said that Anganwadi workers are playing an important role and contributing lots in the development of state  but  were sadly deprived of many social security benefits such as gratuity, medical facilities etc. 

We have family and children back home to feed, lamented Sonam adding that the time has come for the government to understand the situation and raise their honorarium and allowances at least proportionately to the inflation. 

At present about 40,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers in the state were finding it difficult to manage within the paltry sum they received from the government, despite the fact that they work throughout the day, she said. 

Spelling out few of their demands she said “we are not demanding an equal wage of 15000 to 18000 like other Anganwadi workers  are getting in other states, but government should hike our honorarium from existing 3000 to 5000 and should also provide social security like medical facilities and other basic amenities. Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein and BJP, state president, Tapir Gao are expected to address the conference of the Aanganwadi workers scheduled to be held on Saturday.

Department say illegal leave will draw strong action

ITANAGAR: Meanwhile the Department of Women and Child Development has taken very serious view on the un-authorized absence of Anganwadi workers and helpers from their respective centres to participate in the three daylong conference scheduled to held here in state capital on Saturday.

“There is no such report from any of the child development project officers of the state in this regard, except a communication from AAPAW&HU, President Yasi Nalo Sonam to Director (WCD) seeking permission to attend the conference,” informed an official release by Director WCD, TP Loyi.

In reply of the communication, the directorate of WCD asked the union that any request from the Aaganwadi workers must come through the respective child development Project officer, it added.

It also informed  that the government has already decided to provide additional honorarium @ Rs 1500 per month per head in respect of AWWS and AWHs as state government contribution, which amount to 50% increase in the honorarium of AWWS and 100% in respect of AWHs in order to boost their morale and encouragement.

Moreover if there are grievances they should have approached the appropriate authority of the department for redressal as permissible under set standard procedure of the government, added the release cautioning that the illegal mass leave will be viewed with very seriously by the Department of WCD and necessary action would be taken against the absentees.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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