The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Anganwadi workers withdraw agitation

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Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
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Karnataka

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Anganwadi workers withdraw agitation

Special Correspondent

Minister promises to reconsider order

Bangalore: Bowing to pressure from thousands of anganwadi workers who were on an indefinite strike, the Department of Women and Child Welfare has withdrawn its order of handing over food supply for anganwadi centres to women’s self-help groups for this financial year.

Minister for Women and Child Development P.M. Narendraswamy, who announced this at a meeting with anganwadi workers from all over Karnataka on Wednesday, said that the order would be reconsidered in consultation with all the stakeholders. Following this, the strike was withdrawn.

Assurance

On the issue of 7,000 anganwadi workers, who were recruited on the recommendation of MLAs and lost their jobs following a court order that quashed the appointment, Mr. Narendraswamy said that the “Government’s hands are tied” because the matter is in court.

He, however, assured them that the Government will stand by them on “humanitarian grounds”.

When the workers demanded that a retirement age should be fixed for them and retirement benefits announced, he said that the department had put forward the proposal before the Government. He said the Budget on Thursday would have several “pro-women” announcements.

Bhagyalakshmi scheme

At a function earlier, the Minister hinted that the Budget might present an improved version of the Bhagyalakshmi scheme. He said that the department had proposed an increase in the premium of the insurance scheme meant exclusively for girl children in below poverty line families.

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