Govt stays MESMA invocation against anganwadi workers

Bowing to pressure from the ally Shiv Sena and the opposition Congress and NCP, the BJP-led Maharashtra government has stayed the invocation of a stringent Act against 'anganwadi' workers.

The government had last week invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) to stop workers of anganwadis (the state-run women and child care centres) from going on a strike.

The Act empowers authorities to take strong action,like detention, against the workers of services covered under the legislation, if they go on strike. All offences covered under the Act are nonbailable, according to its provisions.

Members of the Shiv Sena and the opposition Congress and NCP had on Wednesday created ruckus in the Legislative Assembly, seeking withdrawal of the MESMA.

Making a statement on the issue in the Lower House on Thursday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Considering the sentiments of the august house, the government has decided to stay the MESMA against anganwadi workers.”

Notably, the Anganwadi Kruti Samiti had gone on strike from September 11 to October 8 last year.

Earlier this month, the anganwadi workers sat on a dharna at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai and threatened to go on strike in support of their demands to raise their honorarium and retain their retirement age at 65 years (from 60).