Aanganbari workers protest in Shimla, police resort to suppression

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Aanganwadi workers union staged a fierce protest against the state government in Shimla today. Supporting the ongoing one month long strike of the Aanganwadi workers , union activists broke the section 144 and offered arrests. The protesting women reached the reporting room and raised slogans against the government protesting against it's indifferent attitude towards the demands of aanganwadi workers regarding the payscale and other promises to the workers. The protest continued for more than one hour after which the police arrested the protesters . In Haryana and Punjab the Aanganwadi workers get merely  Rs 7500 per month and the helpers, Rs 4000 . Union secretary Nirmala Chauhan said that Aanganwadi workers recieve  pensions in states like Maharashtra , Karnataka and Kerala. In the year 2005 , the central government ordered pension for the Aanganwadi workers but state government didn't bother to implement it. Workers are determined to extend their demonstrations to block level by the month of June if the government does not agree to their demands. Addressing the protesters at Mal road , vice president of Aanganwadi workers and helpers union Rajkumar said that the workers and helpers are on hunger strike since one month , but the government didn't even bother to hold talks with them. Cases have been registered against the demonstrators and they have been released on  bail.

( original article and photo courtsey http://www.shimla.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/aanganbari-workers-protest-at-shimla )