Anganwadis, others rend Dispur air

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 8: For the past few months they were seen and heard shouting out slogans at Dighalipukhuripar, Raj Bhawan and on Friday they reached Dispur Last Gate, as though to rehearse their lung-power. They created a situation that led the police to put in place barricades to prevent them from moving ahead.

The persons being talked about here are thousands of anganwadi workers and helpers who number around 70,000 in the State. They were demanding hike in their remunerations, promotion of anganwadi helpers as workers, conversion of mini anganwadi centres as full-fledged ones, development of anganwadi centres, supply of sports and other kits, nutritious food etc., to such centres. While the anganwadi workers get Rs 2,000 from the Centre and Rs 1,000 from the State government as remuneration, the anganwadi helpers get only Rs 2,000 as remuneration. Now they are demanding Rs 5,000 for workers and Rs 3,500 for helpers. When the agitated anganwadis started to march ahead shouting slogans, the police were on their toes and prevented them from going ahead by putting up barricades.

Three other organizations that staged demonstration at Dispur Last Gate on Friday were the All Assam Fair Price Dealers’ Association, the Anusuchit Jat Yuba Chatra Parishad, Asom and the All Assam Pre-service Teacher Trainees’ D.El.Ed Union.  

The demands of the Fair Price Dealers’ Association are bringing all Indian citizens under food security Act, ensuring supply of sugar, kerosene, mustard oil, rice etc., at MSP, fixing Rs 300 per quintal for the distribution of materials under the Food Security Act, regular payment of commissions, cancellation of the decision for cash payment, release of transportation cost and commission under AAY, MDM and MMASY, providing State employee status to fair price shops and monthly allowance for them.

Demands of the AJYCPA are cancellation of the system for generalizing the licensing of water resources like rivers, beels etc., no general caste people to be allowed to have settlement for fisheries other than SC fishermen in accordance with the Fishery Act, to do away with the move to amend the Fishery Act, etc.

The diploma holders in teacher training have been raising the demand for their appointment through special TET meant for them. They say that according NCTCE rules, every year the State Education Department should hold TET, and take steps for appointment of teachers in accordance with RTE Act.