Udupi: Anganwadi workers of Kundapur Taluk –affiliated to Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) organized an indefinite protest in front of the DC Office at Manipal here on Monday, January 2.
They put forth a demand not to privatize the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). The State Government is simply harassing women anganwadi workers by recommending ICDS in the hand of private organization.
Admar Sripathi Acharya, member of the CITU, said that more than 425 % of children are suffering from malnutrition in our country. ICDS at present successfully provides nutritious food to the poor and needy children.
The privatization of ICDS to NGOs, corporate houses and self-help groups will directly or indirectly affect the children. The private organizations will not have the commitment like the government body does, he mentioned.
Instead, he added that the government should create a separate department for implementing the ICDS. He demanded that all Anganwadis should be upgraded and converted into permanent nurseries.
Besides, the recommendations of transferring funds from ICDS to private nurseries have been made to strengthen the concept of pre nursery care and education. He added that anganwadi workers should not be given additional work other than that of the ICDS.
They also demanded salary increase and regular wages for anganwadi workers. Provide them basic facilities like cooking gas, water and toilet, he added.
