Hundreds of Anaganwadi workers and helpers marched to Jantar Mantar from Ramlila Maidan on Monday as their protest for higher pay entered the 27th day.
Agitating under the leadership of Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (DSAWHU), the protesters criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for not implementing the agreement they had in 2015.
‘Govt betrayed us’
DSAWHU demanded a fresh agreement stating a hike in pay, which would fall under the minimum wages category, for the anganwadi workers and helpers.
Accusing the Delhi government of not speaking to the union members and spreading rumours, Shivani Kaul, the president of DSAWHU, said: “In 2015, we had been promised in a legally binding agreement that the honorarium will be increased. However, the government betrayed us and refused to implement this agreement even though we went to the Delhi Secretariat to remind them about this agreement. This time the government refused to even talk to the union members and indulged in all kinds of activities to break the strike by conjuring up imaginary unions.”
Raising questions over the Lieutenant-Governor’s role in the issue, Ms. Kaul said: “Did the (Arvind) Kejriwal government ask the L-G before it spent more than ₹1,000 crore of the hard-earned money of the people of Delhi on its false propaganda and ads? Did they consult him before raising the salary of their MLAs to ₹2.5 lakh? Then why this farce when the issue of honorarium of anganwadi workers and helpers came up?”
‘AAP threatened workers’
DSAWHU called the government’s response on the issue “undemocratic and unconstitutional” and promised to continue the protest till their demands are met.
“The strike cannot be discontinued based on Kejriwal’s twitter activism or a press statement released by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia considering the same government tried to end the strike by all means,” added Ms. Kaul.
The union members also demanded an assurance from the government that none of the workers involved in the strike will be terminated from work on account of participation in the agitation. They also alleged that AAP members threatened workers and helpers in areas like Burari and Jangpura before the rally.
“We can end the strike today itself if the government is ready to conclude a written agreement with us promising the increment in honorarium, the amount of increase, the date from which the increment will be in force and also promising that no worker on strike will be victimised now or later,” said Vrishali, spokesperson of DSAWHU.
