As many as 20 villages of Muktsar Sahib district, Punjab burnt effigies of the state government on the call of anganwadi workers and helpers on September 14, 2021.
Punjab Anganwadi Employees Union President Hargobind Kaur thanked the 20 villages for participating in the workers’ struggle that will go on till September 30. A state-wide protest will also take place on October 2.
The demonstrations began on September 13 during which villages of Lakhewali, Khokhar, Chautra, Fattanwala, Ramgarh Chunghan, Sirwali, Barkandi, Haraj, Fatui Khera, Dhulkot, Doda, Kotli Ablu, Dabra, Lakkarwala, Ward No. 11 Malout, Kaulianwali, Fatta, Ramnagar, Sheikhu and Chhapianwali showed solidarity.
Through these protests, employees reiterated their demand to reinstate children between 3 and 6 years, who were transferred from anganwadi centres to primary schools by the state government in 2017.
Further, women demanded that their job designation be promoted to nursery teachers. Earlier, the government promoted EGS volunteers to the same status. Along with this change in status, they demanded that the government offer them honorarium as per the Haryana pattern.
Hargobind Kaur also demanded that workers receive the pending money from Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana (PMVY) 2017 – a maternity benefit programme.
Related:
Punjab creche workers announce dharna if state gov’t fails to pay dues
Punjab: Anganwadi workers continue working without food or funds
All-Punjab Anganwadi Workers’ Union to hold a protest march on March 4
Will Anganwadi workers ever get their due?