Raising slogans against the JK admin, scores of Anganwadi workers on Monday staged a protest in the Sopore area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, a protesting Anganwadi worker said, the order is oppressive towards the Anganwadi sector of Jammu Kashmir. “LG Manoj Sinha has passed an order which is not suitable for us Anganwadi workers. They (officials) said that if a worker is a resident of one ward and then married to another ward, they’ll disengage them,” she said.
“If the retirement in Ladakh is 65 years, why here in Kashmir it is only 60 years; after that, I will retire what I will do. We have 4000 salaries which also is deposited after within 12 years,” she said.
She said that Anganwadi workers work day and night but in return what are they gaining? “We do door-to-door surveys and also election duties. In March, elections are going to be held if we will not give the survey report what will the administration do,” a protesting lady said.
“We are not under matric rather we are MSc, and BSc degree holders. We demand 5 lac rupees as a pension. Some girls are widows and their household runs on this only. On one hand, the admin claims that it does a lot under the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme, while on the other, it issues orders like this, which is sheer injustice to us,” she told.
The workers said they are opposed order No 222-JK dated 30 November 2022 of the social welfare Department in which the age has been fixed to 60 years and various other unjustified conditions like those Anganwadi workers working in their village if married will be treated as disengaged and further disengagement of those workers and helpers who attain the age of 60 years.
It is said but nothing has been mentioned about their statuary dues, pending salaries and retirement lump sum payments, etc to them.
“Women candidates in the age group of 18-37 years shall be considered for the post,” the order read. The selection of Helper shall be restricted to the electoral ward where Aanganwadi Centre is located. The order also states that the candidate should be a domicile in Jammu Kashmir and the minimum qualification for Aanganwadi Helper shall be Matriculation.
The order read that in case no matriculate candidate is available in the Ward, candidates with qualifications not less than VIII standard shall be considered.