Release wages of Anganwadi workers, helpers; Mohammad Amin Shah

Ganderbal, April,22; Social activist and District Secretary Apni Party Ganderbal Mohammad Amin Shah urged government of J&K to release wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers. He said that Anganwadi workers and helpers of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) Projects under J&K Social Welfare come under the under the State Government, have not been paid monthly wages since last eight months. Apart from addressing the nutritional issues of children and combating child hunger and malnutrition, they have to carry out survey related to health sector, blocked development projects, rural sector, education department, crucial election duty, etc. During Covid, the Anganwadi workers conducted surveys and other jobs assigned by the Government as front line workers but they were not provided any kind of benefit. Shah said that the Government of J&K has not released the state share as part of their monthly honorarium since 2018. The central share which is 4500 has not been released since September, 2021. Shah in a statement said that the J&K administration has also ignored the demand for hike in monthly honorarium. As this meager amount is not enough to meet their family needs, these workers miserably suffer and many of these women feel betrayed as they have been Anganwadi workers under ICDS for nearly 40 years and Govt has miserable failed them. He said that Govt is releasing just Rs 600 as state share in their favour while in Harayana they are paid Rs 7300 as state share, totaling Rs 11800 as wages. Delhi Govt is providing Rs 5500 as state share, totalling Rs 10,000 per month while Punjab is paying Rs 4000 as state share to these workers. There is no hike in wages in J&K since long, despite repeated representations to the higher authorities and protests by the workers. Shah appealed to the UT Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to release wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers in this holy month of Ramdhan as their families has been already pushed to face hardships and also listen to their geniune demands also.