Anganwadi workers hold rally in Karnal, threaten to intensify stir
KARNAL: Thousands of anganwadi workers and helpers on Monday held a state-level rally in Karnal, asking the government to accept their demands, on the first day of the Budget session of the state assembly.
Anganwadi workers and helpers from all districts reached Karnal and gathered at the old vegetable market.
They accused the BJP leaders of not fulfilling the promises made to them.
They also threatened to intensify their ongoing protest and gherao the chief minister’s camp office in Karnal on Tuesday if their demands were not met by the government.
Their agitation entered its fifteenth day on Monday and over 14,000 anganwadis in the state remained closed.
“More than two weeks have passed since the anganwadis in state were shut down, but the government instead of paying heed to our demands, is trying to create divide among us,” said Santosh Rawal, Haryana president of anganwadi workers’ union.
She said the workers were not satisfied with the chief minister’s assurance which was given to a few members of some ‘other’ union.
“We are united and the government cannot divide us. We have a strength of over 50,000 employees,” she added.
The protesting workers alleged that the representatives who met the chief minister were not part of their unions.
Majority of the anganwadi workers and helpers said they were not satisfied with the assurance given by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar of raising their salaries to ₹11,429 and ₹5,715, respectively.
They had been demanding the regularisation of jobs besides a hike in salaries and retirement benefits.