Shadow Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, MAY 17:
Supporting the cause of Anganwari workers agitating on the roads for the last about 105 days, the women wing of JKNPP today took the coalition govt to task for turning a deaf ear to their shrill cries for justice. Leading a huge procession comprising Anganwari workers, helpers and Mahila Panthers, Mrs. Manju Singh today called for early settlement of the issues of such workers failing which the agitation would be joined and intensified by womenfolk from different walks of life. The procession which started from Gole Market Udhampur and culminated at MH Chowk where the protestors staged a dharna resulting in suspension of vehicular traffic for around one hour. The officers of local administration including Social Welfare Officer, CDPOs and Police officers reached the spot and the dharna was lifted only after their assurance to convey the charter of demands of protestors to higher authorities.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Manju Singh lambasted the BJP-PDP coalition for its criminal apathy towards the most genuine demand of Anganwari workers and helpers for enhancement of their honorarium. She said that engaging the said workers and helpers for a pittance and paying them meagre honorarium of 3600/- p.m and Rs. 1600/- p.m respectively was the biggest injustice besides human rights violation of grave nature.
Seeking the enhancement of honorarium of Anganwari workers and helpers to a minimum of Rs. 10,000/- p.m and Rs. 6000/- p.m, Mrs. Manju Singh appealed to the Chief Minister to address the issue on priority and to devise a suitable job policy for them. She regretted that not only the state but the union govt too had left them in lurch with the aggrieved female employees languishing on the roads in sun and rain. Taking a pot shot at the slogan of “Beti Bachao-Beti Padao”, Mrs. Manju Singh said that the shabby treatment doled out to the ‘betis’ of Jammu and cane charging them had blown the lid off the glamorous slogans of Narendra Modi which had prove to be mere election gimmicks.
