Copyright thehindu
Members of Tamil Nadu Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union - Centre of Indian Trade Unions staged a protest here on Tuesday urging the State government to declare their jobs as government professions. M. Umarani, District president, said the demand was not a new one but was already accepted and made one of the election promises of the DMK party. “When we are retiring from our jobs, the government akin to settling other government servants with pension amount, we should also be paid ₹10 lakh for anganwadi workers and ₹5 lakh for assistants,” she added. Also, the anganwadi workers should be granted one-month summer holidays in the month of May. “Though we are on record given leave, due to excess works, we are made to work in that month too,” she noted. For those who have joined the work in 1993, the timely promotion to supervisor position should immediately be given, Ms. Umarani stated. As the anganwadi workers and other workers affiliated to the works have played a major role in reducing the child mortality rates in rural areas, providing basic health education to rural women and youngsters, educating them on benefits of nutritious foods, among others, she said, their work and the workers should be rewarded by making them government professionals and paying them on par with other government servants. “Our work is still indispensable in the rural parts of the State. If we are recognised and treated as equals we would be happier to serve the public and the nation,” she added.
