BHUBANESHWAR: Odisha Women and Child Development Minister, Prafulla Samal today urged the agitating Anganwadi workers and helpers to join work by tomorrow or face action.
Samal said this while appealing to a section of agitators who are still continuing with their sit-in dharna even after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a 50 percent hike in their honorarium two days ago.
Majority of anganwadi workers and helpers called off their 36-day strike after Patnaik's announcement, but a section of them are still on dharna.
"Honourable chief minister has increased 50 percent of monthly honorarium of the anganwadi workers, mini anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers across the state. Many anganwadi workers also extended their gratitude to the chief minister for the hike and resumed their respective duty," Samal said.
However, a section of anganwadi workers are still continuing the stir. "I would like to appeal to them to put an end to their ongoing protest and resume duty by tomorrow," the minister said adding that the government may think of alternative arrangements if they do not join duty by tomorrow evening.
Replying a question, Samal said the government may engage the members of the self help groups (SHGs) or anganwadi workers of nearby area to run the centre closed due to the agitation.
The anganwadi workers are in an indefinite sit-in dharna at the Lower PMG square here for the last 38 days.
Samal said anganwadi workers and helpers play a major role in providing health care and education to children below the age of 6-years and ante-natal care for pregnant women under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme.