Anganwadi Workers Protest Against Central Govt’s move to Privatize ICDS
Udupi: Members of the district Anganwadi Workers’ Association, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), staged a dharna outside the DC office Manipal here on July 10, in protest against the union government’s move to privatise the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under the pretext of private-public partnership (PPP) model and for fulfilling various demands.
Addressing the protesters district Anganwadi Workers’ Association Secretary Susheela Nada said that the ICDS programme was benefitting about 1.8 crore women and 8 crore children. However, the Union government was trying to put an end to the scheme by not releasing funds and privatizing it under the PPP model.
The association, while taking exception to the privatization of the scheme, urged the government to bring the ICDS under a separate department, upgrade the existing Anganwadi centres into ‘Shishu Vihars’, regularise the services of Anganwadi workers and their assistants, allocate adequate funds for the programme and keep them away from election-related duties.
She alleged that the central government is trying to stop cooked meals in Anganwadis and demanded that the government stop privatization of ICDS in any form and that Aadhar linkage to ICDS services should not be made mandatory.
“Implement the recommendations made by the 45th and 46th Indian labour Conferences’ to recognize the Anganwadi workers and helpers as workers, pay minimum wages not less than Rs 18000 per month, provide social security including a pension of not less than Rs 3000 per month”, demanded Nada.
CITU state leader Balakrishna Shetty, Anganwadi workers union leaders Bharathi, Ashalatha Shetty, Jayalaxmi, Shaila, Sarojini, Savitha, Aruna, Vanaja and others were present.