Preparations have been finalized for the sit-in demonstration scheduled for March19th Sit-in by Anganwadi Workers and Helpers

Preparations have been finalized for the sit-in demonstration scheduled for March19th Sit-in by Anganwadi Workers and Helpers

Chandigarh 15 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Preparations have been finalized for the sit-in demonstration scheduled for March 19, 2026, at the Masjid Ground in Sector 20. Organized by the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, the protest is being held to oppose the draft recruitment and promotion rules issued by the Department of Social Welfare, Chandigarh, and to protest the Department's failure to implement the charter of demands submitted on November 24, 2025, and March 11, 2026—despite assurances that these matters would be resolved through dialogue with Union office-bearers. In this regard, during a meeting held today in Sector 30, Union office-bearers strongly condemned officials of the Department of Social Welfare for adopting a negative attitude toward their demands and for failing to engage in dialogue to resolve these issues, despite the repeated submission of memorandums and notices by the Union. Consequently, it was decided that on March 19, 2026, Anganwadi workers and helpers will stage a protest rally near the mosque in Sector 20. During the meeting, strong objection was raised regarding the Social Welfare Department officials' refusal to engage in dialogue to resolve the demands, despite the memorandums and notices submitted by the Union. 

Furthermore, in a letter of protest addressed to the Director and Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare, the Union explicitly expressed its displeasure, stating that the draft rules issued by the Department constitute a conspiracy against employees working under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) umbrella—including Anganwadi workers, helpers, supervisors, and CDPOs. The Union warned that if these rules are implemented, they would result in a complete freeze on promotions and would have a severely adverse impact on workers who have been serving for 15 to 30 years. The Union asserted that this decision by the Department of Social Welfare is being taken solely to benefit a select few contractual employees engaged under the 'Poshan Tracker' initiative, and vowed to oppose this move resolutely. In a memorandum submitted by the Union, a demand was raised to adopt a transparent mechanism for promotions and to establish a 100% promotion quota—based on qualifications—for the Helpers, Workers, Supervisors, and CDPOs currently serving within the department.

During the meeting, taking the Social Welfare Department to task, the Union stated that instead of reviewing and implementing the demands repeatedly presented in their memorandums, department officials are subjecting employees to harassment. Furthermore, members of the nutrition team—including Helpers, Workers, and even Supervisors—are being publicly humiliated and subjected to mistreatment; this extends even to their interactions with beneficiaries, a situation that has fostered deep resentment among the beneficiaries as well.

The Union expressed grave concern over the department's failure to resolve their demands—which include the implementation of DC rates, ensuring 100% promotion opportunities, fixing duty hours in accordance with ICDS guidelines, timely disbursement of honorariums, and ceasing the issuance of baseless, threatening warning letters to pressure Helpers and Workers—despite having served a notice regarding a protest rally scheduled for March 19. The Union further issued a stern warning: if the demands are not resolved expeditiously through dialogue with the Union, a decisive, all-out struggle will be declared during the massive protest rally on March 19.