TNR News Network
Shimla — The Shimla district conference of the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, affiliated with CITU, was held at the Kisan Mazdoor Bhawan, Chitkara Park, Kaithu. The event saw participation from CITU state president Vijender Mehra, Ajay Dulta, Ramakant Mishra, Balak Ram, Amit Kumar, Sunil Mehta, Himi Devi, Vivek Kashyap, Ram Prakash Sharma, and numerous Anganwadi workers.
The conference resolved to hold a statewide strike on July 9 to press for long-pending demands. All Anganwadi centres will remain closed that day, with major demonstrations planned in Shimla, Rampur, Rohru, Kumarsain, Sunni, and Theog.
A 35-member committee was elected for the next three years, with Pingla Gupta as President, Khimi Bhandari as General Secretary, and Usha Devi as Treasurer. Several vice presidents, secretaries, and committee members were also appointed.
Key demands include:
- Granting full Anganwadi status to mini centres and ensuring equal pay for equal work.
- No closure of mini Anganwadi centres.
- Regularisation of all workers and salary hikes.
- Implementation of gratuity as per Supreme Court directives and regularisation under Gujarat High Court orders.
- Recognition of Anganwadi centres as pre-primary schools.
- Supervisor appointments based on seniority and educational qualifications.
- Government employee status, retirement age of 65, and benefits on par with Haryana and Punjab models.
- Financial support for uniforms, mobile recharges, and stationery.
- Resolution of issues with the Poshan Tracker app.
- Opposition to ICDS privatisation under the guise of “Nand Ghar” and budget cuts.
Union leaders warned the central government that failure to regularise Anganwadi workers would intensify the movement. They demanded implementation of the 45th Indian Labour Conference recommendations and called for pension, gratuity, medical leave, and incentives for election duties.
