Anganwadi workers to take out protest march in Delhi

THANE: Anganwadi workers in large numbers from across the country will take out a protest march to the Parliament in Delhi on February 15, pressing for their demand to release pending salaries.

President of Maharashtra Rajya Anganwadi Karmachari Sangh, MA Patil told a press conference yesterday that lakhs of anganwadi workers in many states have not been getting their wages for the last five-six months.

He said in addition to salaries, funds to pay rent of the anganwadi premises too have not been release as a result, many anganwadi centres are either being vacated or workers are facing harassment by land owners.

An action committee of all controlling unions including AICCTU, AIUTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS and INTUC have been formed which has given the call for the morcha of February 15 in Delhi during the Parliament's Budget session, said Patil.

He condemned the steep cut in the central budget allocations for ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) by the current NDA government from Rs 18108 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 8245.77 crore in 2015-16.

The sharp decline in funds has already started to affect scheme in states like Bihar, Punjab UP etc, he said.

In the name of lack of funds, government was forcing state governments to hand over anganwadi centres to corporates and corporate NGOs, he alleged.