ICDS workers demand wage hike

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 20

Hundreds of workers engaged under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) project in Jammu and Kashmir today held a protest and demanded implementation of the recommendation of the 45th Indian Labour Conference.

Workers of ASHA, Anganwadi and those engaged in the mid-day meal scheme have alleged that the successive governments have failed to address their grievances despite playing an important role in the implementation of centrally sponsored projects.

Protesters claimed that as per the rules, Rs 18,000 minimum wages had to be paid to all the ICDS workers. This includes all social security benefits like pension, EPF, ESI and good working conditions.

Addressing the rally, CITU state committee president MY Tarigami said the recommendation of the 45th Indian Labour Conference to regualrise all scheme workers, pay them minimum wages and to provide them all social security benefits and pension had not been implemented by the government.“The common response that the workers receive from the authorities is that the NHM will be discontinued in 2017. It is also a fact that the allocation in the Central budget for the health sector has been decreasing for the past two years,” Tarigami said.

He added that the ICDS schemes was the only way to address the serious issues of child and maternal mortality and child malnutrition.

Meanwhile, senior labour leader Sham Parsad Kesar said ASHA plays a crucial role in enabling the poor population to access the public health services as well as in imparting health education.