Alleging irregularities in implementation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, the Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union on Thursday said it will boycott the 2019 elections if its demands are not met.
At a press conference here, the union said the quality of the supplementary nutrition provided at anganwadi centres was poor, while employment of workers and helpers was being terminated unjustly. Both the Centre and the State governments were complicit, the union claimed.
The union said some of the NGOs hired to provide food to the anganwadi centres had been blacklisted from the Mid Day Meal Scheme due to substandard food they provided government schools but they continued to supply to anganwadis.
Union president Shivani Kaul said the government had not taken action against these NGOs “because there is a nexus between the government and the NGOs.”
At the press conference, anganwadi helper Rama Mathpal said she and 12 children suffered food poisoning recently after eating food that was found to have a lizard in it.
When she tried to speak up about the incident, her employment was terminated, Rama claimed.
“I was given money by the supervisor to keep quiet and was threatened to change my statement. I do not need money, I need justice,” she said.
Apart from the condition of anganwadi centres, the union also demanded the status of permanent employees for workers and helpers, the implementation of the honorarium hike recently announced by the Central government and eradication of corruption.
“If given in writing that our demands will be met, only then we will support any political party in the 2019 elections. Otherwise, we will boycott it,” said Ms. Kaul.
