Muzamil shah
Srinagar: Day after police detained some Anganwari employees who are on hunger strike, several other employees came to join them however were not let by their ‘leaders’.
They are on hunger strike since Monday demanding regularization of their service and increase in salary.
Additional protesters assembled inside press enclave soon after arrested protesters were released by police early in the morning.
The protesters were willing to be the part of the hunger strike but, according to protesting employees, association leaders sent them back saying ‘leaders were enough represent their cause.’
The protesters shouted slogans against state government and concern Minister demanding government should fulfill their demands.
The State Anganwari Workers association, Tasleema Subhan said that it was ‘shame for the concern Minister and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti that women protesters were harassed by police’.
“Isn’t it a shame for Mehbooba Mufti that women were spending nights under an open sky with stray dogs? Our clothes were torn, hair pulled and headscarves were snatched by police. I want to ask Mehbooba is this the way one deals with women?” she asked.
Subhan said that association members were called by Commissioner Social Works for a meeting on Tuesday where he, they claim, said that “Jammu and Kashmir is a poor state and demands cannot be met”.
“We questioned him that if India claims Jammu and Kashmir to be the integral part of India then when why can’t they do justice with us? We told him GOI can do justice with Anganwari workers of Delhi and other states, why can’t they do same with us?” she said.
“He did not respond and we returned to our protest.”
Subhan said that the hunger strike will continue until the demands are met. “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the genuine cause. Everyone has exploited us by making us work from pulse-polio-day to election duties. We want government to stop our exploitation.”
