Thousands of Asha workers, anganwadi workers and helpers and MDM cooks participated in a mass convention held under the banner of Scheme Workers Union Co-ordination Committee here on Wednesday to protest against the alleged anti-scheme steps taken by the Union Government.
Scheme workers staged protest meetings across the country in response to a call given by the AITUC and other trade unions.
The convention held under chairmanship of AITUC State president Ashok Das was addressed by CPI State Secretary Dibakar Nayak, AITUC national secretary Ramkrushna Panda, AITUC State deputy general secretary Bijay Jenaformer MP Dutikrushna Panda. They said the Central schemes have been severely affected due to low budgetary allocations during the current BJP-led NDA Government. For low allocation of funds, future of AWC Workers and Helpers, Asha Workers and MDM coocks has been pushed into darks. They have been deprived of getting minimum needs in life.
They demanded minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month for the above workers and pension of Rs 3,000 per month for retired workers.
Among others Anganwadi leaders Prashant Padhi, Harapriya Swain, Namita Sahu and Mukta Pradhan, MDM cook and helper leader Renubala Dora spoke.
AICCT’s Mahendra Parida, Hind Mazdoor’s Jogendra Tripathy, INTUC’s Kishore Jena, NFITU’s Yudhisthir Maharana, AITUC’s Jayant Das, Sura Jena and Debashis Ghosh provided supports.