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Anganwadi workers up in arms
The members of CITU-affiliated Telangana Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union demanded the State and Central governments to withdraw the proposal to introduce cash transfer in ICDS.
​Hanamkonda: The members of CITU-affiliated Telangana Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union demanded the State and Central governments to withdraw the proposal to introduce cash transfer in ICDS.
A large number of Anganwadi workers took out a protest rally from University Arts College to Warangal Urban district collectorate, where they staged a dharna in support of their demand. Displaying placards they raised slogans against the government’s move.
Speaking on the occasion, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) urban district secretary Ragula Ramesh said the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme started by the Union government in 1975 meant to improve nutritional and health status of pregnant, lactating mothers and children below six years.
The objective was to reduce infant mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school drop-out rate and to lay foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child.
The Centre on October 16 this year has asked the states to initiate a pilot programme to replace food ration with cash transfer. The State government has consented to follow the Centre’s directions.
“The move would defeat the very purpose of the ICDS scheme. 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are from below poverty line families.
There would be no guarantee that they could use the money in procuring nutritious food as they might have other compelling needs to spend the money,” Ramesh pointed out.
Once cash has been transferred, there was little the government could do to ensure that it was actually spent for the intended purpose.
Thus the pregnant and lactating mothers and children could become victims of malnutrition and it would be reversal of what the ICDS has achieved so far, he worried.
Ramesh and the union district general secretary V Ramatara have demanded the government pay minimum wages to Anganwadi workers in the place of a honorarium they were now given. They also wanted clearance of all pending bills.
CITU district vice-president G Prabhakar Reddy, leaders Md Mahabub Pasha, P Ramadevi, N Renuka, J Bhagyalakshmi, M Prasanna, V Savithri and others took part in the agitation.
