Anganwadi workers demand return of cut honorarium

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 30, 2015:   Dakshina Kannada district Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association staged a protest in front of the Zilla Panchayat June 29,  Monday.  They demanded the release of deducted honorarium during protest.

 

 

 

 

The protesters said that the State government had passed an order changing the working hours on an experimental basis till 4 pm in 2011. The anganwadi workers were not given the due payment for extra work.

The anganwadi workers staged a protest across the state. During the meeting with the Director of women and Child Welfare department, the Director promised the protesters not to deduct the honorarium during the protest period. However, anganwadi workers in all the district except in DK , were given honorarium even for a period when they staged a protest. 

Dakshina Kannada district Anganwadi Workers Association President Vishalakshi said that from December 3, 2013, anganwadi workers had closed the anganwadi centres at 2 pm and were engaged in visiting the houses, conducting sthree shakthi meeting, meeting mothers, distribution of nutritious food and other works related to the government. Hence, the honorarium should be paid to the anganwadi workers. the workers were opposed to the idea of extending the work hours unless there was an immediate increase in honorarium. Since that was not happening and given that it was a Central government scheme protest against the move of the government is held said the protesters.

It is stated that on the direction of the Director, all the district deputy directors had made anagnawdi workers to give in writing that they will not hold protest during working hours and paid  deducted honorarium. This was not followed in Dakshina Kannada.

The protest will continue till the authorities release the deducted honorarium. The protest will be attended by anganwadi workers and assistants in turn. We will hold the protest even while work of the the anganwadi is on.

The protesters said that the Deputy Director had promised MLA J R Lobo to release the amount once she gets circular from the department director. Yet the monthly honorarium is not being paid on time. As a result, we are facing inconvenience. The authorities are also engaged in transferring anganwadi workers and assistants without reasoning.