Srinagar, July 4: Asking the government to fulfill the genuine demands of Mid-Day Meal Workers, ASHAs, CPWs and Aganwadi workers/Helpers, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Thursday said the callous attitude of authorities has created uncertainty among these scheme workers.
According to a statement, addressing a day-long convention of representatives of these unions at Kulgam, he said the Mid Day Meal Scheme delivers basic services of nutrition, in the schools and Mid Day Meal workers are not being paid minimum wages nor do they have any social security benefits. In the name of ‘honorarium’ or ‘incentive’ they are paid a pittance as low as Rs.1000 per month for ten months a year. He demanded adequate financial allocation to this scheme to ensure proper infrastructure, including kitchen sheds, storage place and safe drinking water etc.
Urging the government to provide a dignified monthly honorarium to ASHA workers who essentially act as backbone of the health structure in rural areas of the state, the CPI (M) leader said the custom of paying poor compensation for extreme hard work should come to an end to protect the women folk working in different sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. “The government has totally neglected ASHA workers, who are contributing a lot to make NHM a success scheme. The Government must consider the genuine demands of ASHAs which includes minimum wages of Rs 15,000 per month, all social security benefits like pension and gratuity,” said Tarigami.
“CPWs have been working in various schools for many years now with majority of them having put in 20 years consolidated service on insignificant monthly remuneration ranging from Rs 50 to 2000. Even in several cases during the 2016 unrest when mysterious burning of schools started, the CPWs guarded the schools. The CPWs should be paid regular wages @Rs.110/- per day as assured earlier by the government. They are being paid less than the normal wages, which is a gross violation of Minimum Wages Act and severe injustice with them. These workers be provided 50% quota from Watch and Ward posts recently sanctioned by the government under SRO 308,” he said.
“Anganwadi workers and helpers working under the ICDS since 1975 are getting meagre wages which is injustice with them. The government enhanced the honorarium of these workers/helper to Rs 5100 and Rs 2550 respectively; however the announcement of PDP-led government in last Budget session to enhance their honorarium by Rs 500 has not been fulfilled,” he added.
“The convention adopted following resolutions unanimously: Implementation of Minimum Wages Act, Release of Wages of MDM worker which are withheld since 2016, Proper Uniform for CPWs,” reads the statement.
