Anganwadi workers and helpers express sharp resentment over the Punjab Government’s policy of making hollow promises and merely buying time: Harjit Kaur Panjola

Anganwadi workers and helpers express sharp resentment over the Punjab Government’s policy of making hollow promises and merely buying time: Harjit Kaur Panjola

Anganwadi workers will participate in large numbers in the CITU rally to be held in Dhuri on November 3 : Subhash Rani

Chandigarh 27 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : The Anganwadi Employees Union Punjab (CITU) has expressed strong resentment over the repeated postponement of meetings by the Chief Minister of Punjab regarding the demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers. The Union stated that Anganwadi workers and helpers have long been struggling to secure their legitimate demands and have consistently urged the government to schedule a meeting with the Chief Minister to address their issues, so that these demands can be resolved through dialogue.

Harjit Kaur Panjola, the State President of the organization, and General Secretary Subhash Rani stated that following a protest held in Sangrur on October 2, a meeting with the Chief Minister was scheduled for October 26. However, citing a busy schedule, this meeting was postponed, and a new date—November 7—has now been set. The union asserts that the Punjab government is employing a policy of making empty promises and stalling for time. For a long period, the workers have been repeatedly requesting a meeting with the Chief Minister to address their demands, yet these meetings are continually being deferred. Consequently, frustration and resentment are growing among the workers and helpers.

The union stated that Anganwadi workers and helpers play a crucial role in serving the children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers of Punjab. Despite this, they have been struggling for a long time to have their demands addressed. The government should take the issues faced by these workers and helpers seriously, implement the guarantees made in its election manifesto, and—instead of repeatedly postponing meetings—take concrete steps to resolve their demands. The leaders stated that the nutritious food intended for children aged three to six years at Anganwadi centers has not been provided in 80% of these centers for the past two months, as the Punjab Government has imposed conditions related to the 'Poshan Tracker' (Nutrition Tracker). This curtailment of children's rights is deeply concerning and a serious matter. Ever since the Central Government introduced a 50:50 cost-sharing budget for child nutrition, the state government has been concocting various excuses. This constitutes a direct assault on the 'Right of the Child' and the 'Right to Food.'

While the Anganwadi Employees' Union is engaged in a struggle for its own rights, it will also ensure that children's rights are not compromised. In this context, a large number of Anganwadi workers and helpers will participate in a rally being organized by CITU in Dhuri on November 3rd. Through this rally, the voices advocating for the rights of laborers and employees will be raised, with a demand that the requirements of Anganwadi workers and helpers be addressed by ensuring a minimum remuneration of 42,000 rupees for each worker and helper. Pressure will be exerted on the government to address several issues, including: granting the status of Grade III and Grade IV employees (in accordance with a Gujarat High Court ruling); including staff in gratuity benefits (as per a Supreme Court judgment); and halting the reduction in nutritious food provided to children—a cut currently imposed due to 'Poshan Tracker' requirements—while ensuring that all children aged 3 to 6 years receive nutritious meals. The union demanded that the Punjab government ensure the meeting scheduled for November 7 takes place, and that the demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers be seriously considered and resolved promptly.