Srinagar, Feb 18 (UNI) Anganwadi workers on Thursday protested in the summer capital, Srinagar, demanding release of pending wages and regularization of their services.



Scores of Anganwadi workers assembled at Press Enclave in Srinagar on Thursday and demanded that their wages, which are pending from last over one-and-a-half year, be released immediately.



Raising slogans, the workers also demanded regularization of their services. “We have not been paid salaries from over last 16 months. Despite low wages, only centre share of our salaries are paid once in a while. State share of our wages have not been paid since 2018,” Anganwadi and Helpers Association Tasleema told UNI.



She said the Anganwadi workers were promised a payment of Rs 500 per day per person for COVID-19 survey in 2019. But, she said it was not paid.



Similarly, she said wages for leprosy duty was also not paid. “Wages were also not paid for the election duty which was promised by the administration,” she said.



The protestors said they have been promised regularization many times in the past, but so far no initiative has been taken by successive government in this regard. “On top of this, we have not received our wages from last over eight months. How are we supposed to take care of our families,” they said.

The protestors demanded that their wages be released at the earliest so that they can cater to the need of their families. “We will intensify our protest if our demands were not fulfilled,” they added.

UNI ABS SY 1513