New Delhi: In the wake of attacks on several anganwadi centers in the last few days, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday met a number of Anganwadi workers on Saturday at his residence and assured of all possible help.
“Security of all of you is our responsibility. I will talk to the hon’ble LG and will also meet him to apprise of the situation. I will ask him to direct the Delhi police to do the needful,” said the chief minister.
The workers had complained of attack and threats to them from a Union, which is protesting. They said that the protesting union was upset with them as they were working, while the union wants them to stop their work.
The workers also demanded for a salary hike to which the chief minister replied in affirmative. “Wait for a week or so, you are going to get a salary hike and that too a handsome percentage hike. We are here for you and will take care of everything,” he said.
On the complaint of the quality of food at the centres, the chief minister said that the quality will be changed and it will be done in consultation with the Aanganwadi workers.
Some Aanganwadi workers complained of the poor facilities at their centres.
“We have started our model Aanganwadi centre, the first one is in Pitampura where there are four centres and all of them are better than the private crèches. We will come up with similar centres in the times to come all over Delhi. We together have to make centres so good that people start sending their kids to our centres rather than a private crèche,” he added.
He cited the example of Delhi government schools and the quality of education being imparted at these schools. Mr Kejriwal said that the centres would be equipped with modern facilities and best equipment. The CM also said that none of the staff will lose job because of any mergers of centres, an apprehension that has been expressed by the protesters. There are around 11,000 anganwadi centres in Delhi, where workers and helpers collectively number around 22,000. Workers are paid '5,000 while helpers earn around Rs 2,500 per month
