Around 30 Poshan Sakhi, a group of people who focus on the nutrition needs in rural India, on Tuesday carried out a demonstration at the district headquarters of Dhanbad demanding the immediate release of their pending salaries of six months.

The protesters, including those from Dhanbad, Dumka, Godda, Koderma, Giridih, and Chatra, met Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar and submitted a memorandum containing 10-point charter of demand, including the regularization, release of salary cuts made during their last strike held in 2019, increase in their salaries, reservation for them in recruitment process for higher posts like Sevika and Sahayiaka, etc.

Talking to The Telegraph Online at the sidelines of their demonstration, Soni Paswan, the state president of Jharkhand Pradesh Anganwadi Karmchari Poshan Sakhi Sangh said “At a time when almost every section of society is facing financial constraints due to job losses, salary cut, closure of industrial and trading units, the non disbursement of salaries since the last six months have pushed us on brink of starvation.”

“Anjali Devi, one of Poshan Sakhi posted at theKendua-based Anganwadi Kendra, is unable to secure treatment for her ailing husband due to lack of salaries and despite advising nutritious food for the lactating and expectant mothers, she could not secure the same for her husband required for his good health at the moment,” said Paswan.

“My family and I are in no better condition. My husband Ashok Paswan, who works as a fourth grade staff at a local firm in Dhanbad, is also getting irregular salaries due to the pandemic and we are finding it difficult to eke out the living of six,” she added.

Rini Singh, another protester who took part in the demonstration said, “The minimum educational qualification required for the recruitment of Poshan Sakhi is graduation but they are working at the meager salary of Rs 30,00 which is equal to that of a Sahayika, for which no qualification is required as they are entrusted with the task of cooking Khichdi for the children studying in Anganwadis.”

“Whenever there is any talk at the government level about the salary hike or regularization of services of Anganwadi Kendra staff there is talk of only Sevika (entrusted with the task of educating children) and Sahayika and there is no mention of Poshan Sakhi who undergo greater hardship by visiting houses and suggesting expectant and lactating mothers about nutritious food,” said Singh

“The DC during the meeting assured us to take up the issue with the state government and ensure our pending salary release,” said Singh, adding that if the salary is not made within 10 days they will be compelled to go on a one day strike at Randhir Verma Chowk near the district headquarters.