Several left minded organisations hit the streets in Agartala on Saturday demanding gratuity pay for the Anganwadi Workers.
The Tripura Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, in collaboration with the state committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the All India Working Women’s Coordination Committee, and the All India Democratic Women’s Association, organized a rally in Agartala to push forward their 4-point charter of demands.
The charter of demand included the implementation of gratuity pay for Anganwadi workers as mandated by the Tripura High Court.
The rally, led by representatives from various leftist organizations, saw participation from former minister and CITU leader Manik Dey. The demonstrators marched to submit a deputation to the Director of the Social Education and Social Welfare Department, pressing for immediate action on their demands.
Speaking to reporters during the rally, Manik Dey highlighted the prolonged issue of gratuity pay for Anganwadi workers. He stressed the High Court’s directive that mandates the state government to disburse gratuity within 30 days of an Anganwadi worker’s retirement. Failure to comply requires the government to include an interest of 7% on the delayed payments.
Dey criticized the state government’s continued delay in adhering to this court order, which has caused significant financial distress for retired workers.
In addition to the demand for gratuity payments, the rally’s participants outlined three other critical demands including an increase in wages for Anganwadi workers and helpers, the extension of their working hours, and the reinstatement of retrenched Anganwadi workers.
The rally called on the state government to address these issues urgently and honor the rights and contributions of these frontline workers.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
