CM assures to reinstate terminated Anganwadi workers but with *

Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that he has informed Anganwadi workers to withdraw their strike, and they will be taken back for work
“I’ve told them straight forward to withdraw the strike and give us in writing that they will not participate in strikes or do any political interference. After that, we will take them back,” said Sawant.
The Anganwadi workers, who have been on strike at Azad Maidan for the last 25 days, began a hunger strike six days ago to demand the revocation of their termination orders.
The health of six terminated Anganwadi workers who are on a hunger strike deteriorated, with one of them being moved to hospital on Monday morning.
It may be recalled that the Anganwadi workers have begun their protest, asking the government to raise their wages which were not hiked for the last 10 years.
In inhuman treatment, the Department of Women and Child – headed by Minister Vishwajit Rane, terminated the services of seven Anganwadi employees last April merely because they formed a new union and protested for their rights.
The order issued by Deepali Naik, Director & Ex-officio joint secretary DWCD, on April 1, 2022, also says the Anganwadi workers have no right to protest and demand regularisation, nor can demand civil posts.
“Anganwadi Workers being honorary workers can neither be declared permanent servants nor can be given
any civil posts: hence they are not eligible for related benefits,” said the order.
Further, it says two Unions viz. Akhil Goa Raja Karmachari Sanghatana and Goa Union of Anganwadi workers and both the Unions have separately inwarded their letters in the Directorate, thereby creating confusion as to which Union has been actually representing the Anganwadi Workers.
“The newly formulated Union has been formed so without the knowledge or approval of the Ministry and Directorate of Women and Child Development. The newly formulated Union has neither submitted any documentary evidence to justify their locus standi at the time of submission of their demands nor in the near future,” it reads.
Goa Union of Anganwadi Workers had politicised the demands of Anganwadi Workers through Hrudaynath Shirodkar, and the President Goa Union of Anganwadi Worker has accepted the fact vide reply dated 20.12.2021, which was submitted past the due date for replying to the show cause notice dated 10.12.2021 issued to the President of the Goa Union of Anganwadi Workers as well as Akhil Goa Rajya Karmachari Sanghatana for being an Honorary Anganwadi Workers of the Department by the Director (DWCD).
The Directorate was unaware about the fact that Hrudaynath Shirodkar is the Advisor of the Goa Union of Anganwadi Workers.
The Directorate knows that Hridaynath Shirodkar was a political representative of the Congress Party. The video is available on media page of Facebook dated 09/12/2021.
“Hence, the agitating New Union with support of the some of the Anganwadi Workers/Helpers who were directly assisted the Congress Party through Hrudaynath Shirodkar failed to maintain integrity, devotion to duty
and acted unbecoming of Anganwadi Workers/Helpers, violating the expected code of conduct,” the WCD department said.