PIL seeks court order to end anganwadis' strike

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed by advocate Dr Gunratan Sadavarte seeking directions to the government and association of anganwadi workers to withdraw their ongoing strike.

The PIL was mentioned by Advocate Dr Jayshri Patil, before a bench of the Chief Justice Manjula Chellur who has posted the matter for urgent hearing in the coming week. The anganwadi workers have been on indefinite strike since September 11, seeking hike in honorarium and over a new scheme in place of Take Home Ration. There are 2,06,000 anganwadi workers in the state's 97,000 anganwadis, operating schemes such as supplementary nutrition and health services for children, and daycare for pre-primary school children.

Patil said, "The services offered by the workers fall under the category of essential services, the government should enforce Maharashtra Essential Services and Maintenance Act (MESMA) to force the workers to return to their duties."

The plea also makes a mention about around 1,200 children having been hospitalised as their basic care is not being taken care of.

The PIL has also sought directions for the government to compensate family members of the children who are deprived of the services. Relying on various newspaper reports, the PIL has impleaded Minister Pankaja Munde and other senior government officials.

Political support

Recently, the striking workers got support from Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray who urged them to continue their strike until their demands are met with 
by the government.