9th July 2010 All India Strike of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers

Punjab Deputation

The Punjab government had appointed some workers, working in Border Area Project, who were midwives with middle school education, to the post of Supervisors, in the category of ‘Pucca Deputation’. This was decided on 9th November 2009. When the union came to know about this next day, these women workers reached the CDPO office with their appointment letters. The union resisted this step of the government and announced that they were going to start struggle.

On 12th November 2009 around 450 workers gheraoed the office of the director for seven hours. No one could get in or out in the office. The Chandigarh Police had to put a ladder for the director to go outside the office and meet the minister. The anganwadi workers were enraged over this wrong decision. The Chandigarh police did not dare to interrupt the agitation of the anganwadi workers. At last the director of the department reached the Dharna, accepted the charter of demands and gave an assurance to arrange a meeting of the delegation with the minister on 18th November. The director assured that they will look into the appointment of the midwives as supervisors.

On 18th November a meeting was held with the Cabinet Minister. The government officials were ordered to conduct an enquiry into the matter. The union has now come to know that those midwives have been appointed in the post of Chaprasi.