‘From drug survey to census’: Aaganwadi workers upset over multiple duties beyond job profile

Bathinda: After teachers, now Aaganwadi workers of Punjab are complaining that they have been assigned duties which are not part of their job profile. The workers, who get Rs 11,000 per month as emoluments, have been deputed in various schemes, including drug census, census, chief minister health card and Mukh Mantri Maava Dhiyan Satkar Yojana (cash incentive of Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 to eligible women over 18 years). "We have been asked not to take rest even on Sundays," said All Punjab Aaganwadi Mulazam Union state president Hargobind Kaur on Wednesday. There are 27,556 Aaganwadi workers in Punjab, who manage several Aaganwadi centres. Their main job profile is to take care of kids and pregnant women, providing them nutritional diet, and run pre-school for kids from 3 to 6 years. A fair number of teachers too have been assigned various such duties, even as the state govt had time and again claimed that the teachers will not be deputed for other schemes. Kaur, speaking to mediapersons, said they are not provided minimum wages, but are being deputed in various schemes. "Working for Maava Dheeyan Satkar Yojana is very cumbersome, as we have to work as per directions of a Satkar Sakhi, who is appointed as per the wishes of ruling party," Kaur added.MSID: 130442377 413 |