Srinagar: Community childcare workers, known as Anganwadi workers (AWWs), and their helpers staged a protest in Srinagar, demanding release of pending wages, regularization of services and other long-pending benefits, highlighting growing frustration over the occupation authorities’ continued indifference to their grievances.
According to Beyond the Time News, the protesting workers said they have been raising their issues for years, including timely payment of salaries, enhancement of honorarium and provision of pension benefits, but their demands remain igonored.
Raising slogans, the workers called for their issues to be taken up in the IIOJK Assembly so that a concrete policy decision could be taken in their favour. They emphasized that despite playing a crucial role at the grassroots level in child nutrition, health and welfare schemes, they continue to be treated unfairly.
Many Anganwadi workers and helpers are struggling to make ends meet due to meagre wages and irregular payments. Protesters stressed that regularization of services and social security benefits like pension are essential to ensure dignity and stability for thousands of workers.
The workers appealed to the authorities to seriously consider their demands and resolve the issue at the earliest, warning that they would intensify their agitation if their voices continue to be ignored.
