SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Oct 20: Over 2500 Poshan Sakhis cum additional Aaganwadi Sevikas of Dhanbad on Wednesday sat on an indefinite dharna at Randhir Verma Chowk demanding honorarium payment pending for the last eight months.
State president of the Jharkhand State Poshan Sakhi Association (JSPSA) Soni Paswan said that they had to sit on indefinite dharna after concerned officers of the state government, as well as central government, failed to take notice of their plight due to nonpayment of honorarium.
Now Poshan Sakhis of six districts would stage dharna in front of Rajbhawan ( Governor House) Ranchi on October 25 if an honorarium is not paid in five days,” announced president Soni Paswan.
Poshan Sakhis had been appointed in 2016 to assist Anganwadi Sevikas. She draws RS 1000 as an honorarium per month.
Agitating JSPSA leaders claimed that they had met deputy commissioner (DC), MLAs and MP about pending honorarium. Even Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the concerned minister were informed but they are yet to act.
A senior officer of the district social welfare development department said that since the central government has not released allotment, their honorarium payment is held up.
Following agitation by Poshan Sakhis, the search of malnourished kids and immunization are likely to be affected.
“Durga Puja festival of our family passed in penury in lack of honorarium payment. Other festivals are on the card but the state government does not look to ensure payment. So this time Poshan Sakhis of state have decided to fight for a finish so that honorarium payment issue does not arise time to time,” said Soni Paswan.
