Date:07/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/07/stories/2007070754210800.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Anganwadi workers to strike work

Special Correspondent

To highlight demands such as timescale pay, social security, retirement benefits

CHENNAI: Over 13 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the country have decided to observe a token strike on July 10 to highlight demands such as timescale pay, social security, retirement benefits and creation of a separate government department to implement the project, according to the Secretary of the State unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) A. Soundararajan.

He told reporters here on Thursday that the efforts of the ICDS personnel including the relay fast undertaken by them in July last year and the rally held on May 8 to bring their plight to the notice of the State and Central Governments had not evoked any response.

The demand for creating a Central department to implement ICDS permanently acquired importance in view of the responsibilities vested with the Anganwadi personnel for over three decades, he said.

Growth promotion, selective supplementary nutrition, early childhood care and pre-school education and health and referral services had been brought in under the ICDS. Children and expectant and nursing mothers were among the beneficiaries.

ICDS personnel in Tamil Nadu were the worst-hit, as they had been denied adequate remuneration despite carrying out additional responsibilities in noon-meal centres, Mr. Soundararajan said.

Their plight was brought to the notice of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday.

General secretary of the Tamil Nadu Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union K. Tamizharasi said though the Centre hiked the wages of ICDS personnel, sanctioning Rs.116 crore in 2002, the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government had not disbursed the amount to 96,000 workers and helpers in 48,000 Anganwadi centres in the State.

Though the Centre had been providing funds at the rate of Rs.1,063 for Anganwadi workers and Rs.500 for helpers towards monthly wages exclusively for their ICDS work, the State Government had not disbursed the amount to them, she said.