Demands immediate withdrawal of ESMA, termination of anganwadi workers and helpers and restoration of talks with striking unions
AIFAWH Strongly condemns the invoking of ESMA on Striking Anganwadi Workers and Helpers by Delhi Government and demands immediate withdrawal of ESMA, termination of anganwadi workers and helpers and restoration of talks with striking unions.
Anganwadi workers and helpers in Delhi are on strike from early this year. Delhi Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (CITU) affiliated to AIFAWH is on strike since 5 February 2022 on 17 point charter of demands.
After a protest demonstration held on 11 February 2022 at Delhi secretariat, the government has called the unions which are on strike for negotiations. On 21 February 2022, a delegation of DAWHU(CITU) held discussions with the WCD Minister, Secretary and Director ICDS of the Delhi government on the demands which include immediate release of the increase in wages declared by the central government in 2018 and withheld by the state government with arrears, annual increase in wages, minimum wages and social security including pension pending the regularisation as government employees. The Minister in principle agreed to the demands but refused to give any written assurance and the union decided to continue the strike.
In the meantime, Delhi WCD Minister unilaterally announced an increase in wages of the anganwadi workers and helpers and claimed that they are paying the highest wages in the country, which is false. The union demanded that the government continue the talks with the unions on issues of regularization of the workers kept on leave vacancies for more than ten years, annual increase in wages and retirement benefits etc.
But, instead of holding discussions with the unions as promised, showing its anti democratic anti trade union attitude, the AAP government started issuing notices to the striking workers and terminating them. Yesterday, at the AAP government’s behest, the LG has invoked ESMA on the striking anganwadi workers and helpers. It is a highly condemnable and authoritarian action. At the same time it is also ironical that the governments which are not ready to recognize the anganwadi workers and helpers as government employees invoke ESMA which is applicable to the government employees.
It is to be noted that the Haryana BJP government invoked ESMA on striking ASHA workers last month but the CITU union defied the ESMA order, severe repression and arrests, and went on strike twice during this period.
It is unfortunate that the other union, which is affiliated to Maz door Bigul Dasta instead of unitedly fighting against the government, is resorting to misinformation campaign and mudslinging against the CITU and resorting to violence. The AAP government is taking advantage of the lack of unity among the workers.
While demanding that the AAP government withdraw ESMA and restart the negotiations with the unions, we call upon all the anganwadi workers and helpers to unite in the fight against the Delhi government as well as the Modi government which is dismantling the ICDS.
We urge all the democratic people in the country to come out against the draconian ESMA illegally imposed against the anganwadi workers and helpers who extend valuable service risking their lives fighting the pandemic and malnutrition.
We warn the AAP government that the struggle against such authoritarian moves will be intensified with the help and support of the people of the country.
The strike by the anganwadi workers and helpers are going on in Haryana since 8 December 2022. The Haryana BJP government is also not ready to talk to the unions and is resorting to severe repression and retrenchment etc. There also the anganwadi workers and helpers are bravely resisting the repression and continuing the strike.
We urge the people of the country to support the struggle of the anganwadi workers and helpers throughout the country for their rights as workers and the right of the children to health nutrition and education.
Issued by
A R Sindhu
General Secretary
