Balbir Singh Sidhu Visits Bhagomajra Grain Market, Holds Talks with Officials Over Farmers’ Problems Government Must Stop Harassing Punjab’s Farmers in Grain Markets : Balbir Singh Sidhu S.A.S.Nagar 16 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Senior Congress leader and former Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today visited the grain market in Bhagomajra village and listened to the problems faced by farmers. Taking note of the delays in paddy procurement and lifting at the market, he spoke over the phone with IAS officer Varinder Kumar Sharma, Director of Food Supplies, and Vishesh Sarangal, Managing Director of Markfed. He demanded that the procurement and lifting of farmers’ crops be ensured without further delay. Sidhu said that the poor state of procurement arrangements in grain markets across Punjab was causing immense inconvenience to farmers. It was completely unacceptable that farmers should be forced to struggle in markets to sell their produce while the government remained a mere...
Anganwadi Workers Union Punjab (CITU) meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema remains inconclusive
Anganwadi Workers Union Punjab (CITU) meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema remains inconclusive
Chandigarh 23 July ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Today, a delegation of Anganwadi Workers Union Punjab (CITU) held a meeting with Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema. The meeting was chaired by the state president of the union, Harjit Kaur Panjola. General Secretary Subhash Rani, Finance Secretary Amritpal Kaur and State Vice President Krishna Kumari were present on behalf of the union. Director Mrs. Seena Agarwal and Deputy Director Mrs. Sumandeep were also present on behalf of the department.
During the meeting, the union strongly raised the long-pending demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers. The union demanded that the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers be doubled immediately, the annual increment should be increased, the ex-gratia should be increased while implementing gratuity as per the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the promotion of helpers should be done on the basis of basic experience. In the Mothers and Daughters Respected Scheme, the helper should also be given incentive per form like the worker. Apart from this, the issue of promoting the helpers as workers after recognizing their experience after passing the tenth standard was also strongly raised.
The union said that the Anganwadi workers have been honestly implementing many schemes of the government on meager honorarium for years, but their legitimate demands are being continuously ignored. During the meeting, the Finance Minister and the officials did not give any concrete decision or time-bound assurance on the demands. Like every time, this time too, only assurances and promises were received, due to which the meeting remained completely inconclusive.
The Anganwadi Workers Union Punjab (CITU) has warned the government that if the legitimate demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers are not addressed immediately, the August 10 Jail Bharo agitation will be intensified. The Punjab government will be fully responsible for this.
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