Tens of thousands of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers will join the Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally on 5 September 2018
Some news papers and TV channels are putting out news that the Central Government has decided to increase the honorarium of anganwadi workers and helpers ‘soon’. They quote some ‘WCD Ministry officials who don’t want to be named’. But the news itself is contradictory to the headline. The news itself say that the Government may take a decision ! There are no details about the amount of increase in honorarium or implementation date.
This news, based on one newspaper report, is being propagated in the social media and other media by puppet trade unions and BJP-RSS followers. This is nothing but a hoax intended to mislead the anganwadi workers and helpers who are up in arms against the Modi government which has cut down the budget of ICDS and also introduced Direct Cash Transfer in ICDS.
Still, when AIFAWH contacted the office of the joint secretary WCD (and in charge of ICDS) , we were told that “the news papers may write anything, but the government, as of now has not decided anything”.
We recall that similarly, just before the 11 July 2016 ‘Black Day’ call by AIFAWH, the Minister Maneka Gandhi herself issued a statement on benefits of anganwadi workers; just before the scheme workers’ strike on 20 January 2018, the Ministry issued a statement on the benefits of the anganwadi workers; in July 2017 and July 2018 before the AIFAWH demands day; before the worker’s mahapadv in November 2017 etc., such news appeared in the media and vanished immediately after the programme.
This time it is the worker- peasant sangharsh rally being organized by CITU, AIKS and AIAWU, to be held on 5th September 2018 which is making the Modi government again resort to lies. Already the campaign has reached the anganwadi workers and helpers cutting across union affiliations. About fifty thousand anganwadi workers and helpers are expected to participate in this rally in which more than three lakh workers, agricultural workers and peasants are expected to attend.
AIFAWH calls upon the anganwadi workers and helpers throughout the country to thwart the efforts of the Government to mislead the workers through false propaganda and to weaken the struggles of the workers. Some BJP ruled state governments including Uttar Pradesh where the remuneration is one of the lowest and the unions are jointly preparing for a big struggle, has also created such false and paid news on increase of wages of anganwadi workers and helpers. AIFAWH proudly declares that it is only the militant and massive struggles by the trade unions which have forced various governments to increase the remuneration of the anganwadi employees. However, our basic demands of recognition as workers, minimum wages, social security and pension are still unaddressed by the government.
We call upon the anganwadi workers and helpers of the country to join enmasse in the worker peasant rally on 5 September 2018 and get prepared for further militant struggles including general strike.
Issued by
A R Sindhu
General Secretary
