Anganwadi workers, helpers protest to demand roll back of HR policy, release of pending wages
SOPORE: Scores of Anganwadi workers and helpers working under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme on Monday staged a massive protest to press for roll back of HR Policy and release of their pending wages.
The protesting employees assembled outside ADC office Sopore to register their protest under the banner of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union J&K UT
Protestors said the newly approved Human Resource (HR) policy framed by the government is totally unacceptable and the government should revoke this policy immediately.
They said their protest will continue till the order is not revoked.
“We welcome the retirement policy but what will happen to us post retirement, nobody is bothered about that,” they said.
Mymoona Begum, one of the protesters said that in outside states and even in Ladakh UT, the upper age limit of workers has been kept as 65 years instead of 60 years.
“In other states, ICDS workers are being given Rs 4 lac gratuity on retirement,” she said, and appealed to the LG administration to enhance the retirement age up to 65 years and provide gratuity of Rs 4 lac and pension.
The protesters said that there should be no retirement of ICDS workers till retirement benefits including gratuity Rs 4 lac per worker and monthly pension is provided to them.
“We have given our precious time while serving the department for the last 20-30 years,” the protesting employees said.
Notably, the government earlier approved the proposal of a comprehensive Human Resource Policy to govern the engagement, leaves, promotion and other important aspects of this very vital work force of the department.
Bilal Ahmad
