People's Democracy

TRIPURA

Anganwadi Workers Hold First State Conference

Haripada Das

THE first ever state conference of anganwadi workers and helpers was held on July 28-29, 2007at Bishalgarh, West Tripura. A rally and a public meeting was held on this occasion amidst intermittent rain under the chairmanship of Shrabani Chakraborty, chairperson of state organising committee. K Hemalata, all India general secretary of anganwadi workers and helpers union, all India chairperson of the organisation Nilima Maitra, the state Social Welfare minister, Manik Dey addressed the gathering.

Speaking in the rally, Hemalata said that it is imperative for the anganwadi workers to organise themselves for accomplishing their just demands by launching bigger struggles throughout the country. As the anganwadi workers are carrying out a very vital task of taking care of the expectant mothers and babies of the lower strata people, Congress Party, because of its class outlook, has least concern for the would-be-mothers of the downtrodden sections. Hence there is no alternative before the anganwadi workers than to mount organised pressure on the government for getting their due, she said.

Underlining the great importance of the task, the anganwadi workers discharge nationwide, Hemalata said, the paltry amount they get as allowance, is very insufficient to feed even their children. Denial to recognise the service of the anganwadi workers tantamounts to denial of the healthy mother and children. Thus the UPA government led by Congress Party is jeopardising the future of the would-be-citizens of the country, that no welfare country can compromise, Hemalata said. To ensure sustainable health care of the mothers and children, a separate central department must be opened up to look after the welfare of mothers and babies, she demanded.

All India chairperson of the organisation, Nilima Maitra said that that unlike any other state in the country, anganwadi workers and helpers in the three Left ruled states get extra financial benefit from the state exchequer in addition to the meager allowance they get from central government. Manik Dey, minister, Social Welfare and Social Education department, in his address ensured that the government would continue the present benefits to the workers of this section and try to increase it further in future and expressed that the state Left Front government will be always by the side of the anganwadi workers and helpers in the movement for realising their just demands.

Following the open rally, the first session of the first conference of anganwadi workers and helpers union started in the evening with 337 delegates. A seven member presidium was formed. Kajal Rani Sarkar placed the report for discussion. 25 delegates took park in the discussions to enrich the report and later it was passed unanimously. Manik Dey, CITU state secretary Pijush Nag expressed fraternity with the anganwadi workers and helpers. Comparing the living standards of many big states of the country with that of Tripura, Hemalata informed, she had visited many states and had personal experience of miserable living conditions of toiling people. Compared to them, Tripura people live in far better conditions at present, she said. Manik Dey explained the wrong attitude of the central government towards North Eastern states for which Tripura was the worst sufferer. Nilima Maitra elaborated the adverse effect of the globalisation policy adopted by the central government on the women and children.

Resolutions demanding regular government employee status for the anganwadi workers and helpers, on women empowerment and social security, condemning killing and torture of bride, against price rise and demanding augmentation of PDS and a call to form Sixth Left Front government in the state, were adopted in the conference.

In the concluding session on July 29, the conference elected an 80-member state committee and 18-member secretariat. Shrabani Chakraborty and Kajal Rani Sarkar have been elected as president and secretary.