Apni Party concerned over plight of Anganwari workers, helpers

Srinagar, Jan 19: Apni Party senior leader and former minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the appalling conditions confronted by the Anganwari workers across Kashmir division.

Referring to the Anganwari workers and helpers of Kupwara district who staged a sit in and went for hunger strike today, Mir urged for the intervention of Lt. Governor demanding for the release of their salaries and other withheld arrears.

Mir took a jibe on the present administration in the social welfare department of being impervious to the genuine concerns of the field staff. “It is unfortunate that the social welfare department has become immensely irresponsive and oblivious to the genuine demands of the Anganwari workers and helpers who are rendering selfless services for implementing the centrally sponsored schemes on the ground,” he observed.

Mir said the Anganwari workers and helpers are demanding the release of their salaries/honorariums/arrears that have been pending from the last 12 months. “I wonder how their families have survived for a whole year. We need to blow a trumpet so that the administration wakes up from the deep inertia they have dived into. They don't ask for alms from the government, it is their right which they are demanding on roads, ” Mir emphasized.

The senior party leader beseeched the immediate intervention of Lt Governor into this matter and demanded the instant release of pending salaries and other perks. He said that Anganwari workers have long waited for the enhancements in their salaries. “It is a high time for the government to take a bold decision that will benefit so many workers.”

“There exists an immediate necessity for the redressal of the complaints of such hard workers. Besides clearance of all pending dues, enhancements in salaries and honorariums should be carried out in line with the steps taken in the rest of the country,” he added.