Outfit protests outsourcing of nursery teachers
Mandi, July 29
The district committee of the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), held its conference at the Comrade Tara Chand Hall in Mandi district yesterday. The conference was chaired by Hamindri Sharma, Bimla Sharma, Godavari Walia, and Kshama Verma. The state general secretary of the union, Vina Sharma, inaugurated the conference, and CITU district president Bhupender Singh and general secretary Rajesh Sharma were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Vina Sharma criticised the Central Government’s budget proposal as it failed to increase the honorarium for Anganwadi workers and had also reduced the budget for the child development project. She said she was concerned the project was being prepared for privatisation, which the union opposed. Sharma said two years ago, the Apex Court ruled to provide gratuity and other benefits to Anganwadi workers. However, the state government has yet to implement it. She said the union demanded immediate implementation of the said benefits.
Sharma accused the previous BJP-led state government of deceiving the Anganwadi workers. She said the Centre had promised the appointment of nursery teachers, and the Congress-led government was planning to hire outsourced workers with NTT diplomas. She said the union was preparing to launch a protest against this move.
The conference also addressed issues related to Mini-Anganwadi workers, who have not received honorariums for four years. The union demanded that mini centres be upgraded to full centres with equal pay and helpers over 35 years of age with five years of service be promoted to worker status. Additionally, the union sought regularisation of all Anganwadi workers, pensions, and financial benefits similar to those in Haryana.
She said, “The Central Government’s decision to end the right to form unions has sparked nationwide protests, including in Himachal Pradesh. Further action on the matter will be taken soon. The union plans to submit a memorandum regarding this on August 5.”
