BS RAWAT
A joint platform of Scheme Workers Federation under programmes like Anganwadi, ASHA, and national health mission, who have been at the forefront in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, took to the streets across the country to press their demands.

They were demanding safety and insurance, rights of recognition as workers, minimum wages and pension, risk allowance and compensation, and health, food, employment and income to all.

In a statement, A.R. Sindhu, Secretary of the federation, said, “There are scores of cases of ASHAs and Anganwadi workers who died during covid-19 duty. Except for a couple of cases, no insurance amount was paid to the family.”

“Hundreds of ASHA and anganwadi workers are getting infected daily. The governments are not even providing the basic safety gear to these workers. Upto six months’ wages are pending in many states. Mid day meal workers did not get any wages since lockdown,” the statement said on Wednesday.

“In many states the frontline workers are planning to continue the struggle if their immediate demands are not met,” the statement warns.

The federation has given a call for observing nationwide jail bharo and satyagraha protest on August 9 against the policies of the government, it added.