Forced to work on paid holiday, anganwadi workers cry foul
Indian Express: Despite the State Election Commissioner declaring a “paid holiday” on Tuesday, around 1,000 anganwadi sevikas in the city, who come under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, were “forced” to work on the day — to distribute packets of supplementary nutrition food.
While deputy labour commissioner Anil Lakaswar promised to examine the issue, the Anganwadi Karmachari Sabha (AKS) has filed a complaint with the labour commissionerate and district collectorate.
Only those working in essential services and doing election duty were called to work on Tuesday. “As anganwadi sevikas don’t fall in these categories, they should have been given a holiday,” the complaint said.
AKS district president Nitin Pawar said, “The sevikas are already overburdened with the survey of swine flu patients and distribution of supplementary food packets in vasti areas.”
Sunanda Salve, an anganwadi sevika who worked on Tuesday, said the ICDS officials wanted to make up for the loss of working days during swine flu holidays. “We are also called on Sundays and other public holidays. Though some of us managed to vote in the evening, some could have missed the exercise as they come from far-off places.”
Lakaswar said the labour commissioner office would look into the issue. “Most of the government staff were on election duty and didn’t get a holiday. Moreover, it needs only an hour to distribute food packets. However, we will look into the matter.”
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