Lucknow, Read: The strike of Health Department employees and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) continues in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. Women from 75 districts have been protesting with their small children in Eko Garden for 4 days. The protesting women are agitating for equal pay, security and regularization and other demands. Women say that when the work is the same, the hard work is the same, then why is there so much difference in salary? Women health workers said that even before this they had raised their demands at their level, but no official paid attention to their views. Due to this, they have to stage this protest to fulfill their demands. He said that we do not want alms, we want rights.
During the protest, health women workers have opened a front against the government with slogans of 'Respect our hard work'.
Not a single rupee has increased in last 2 years
The demand of these women employees is that they should be given equal salary as is being given to other permanent ANM workers. 50,000 permanent employees are getting it, whereas they are getting a monthly salary of Rs 10,000. Their salary is less than that of a daily wage laborer, while their work is equal or more than that of other workers. She has been providing services for more than 10 years, but she has not received even a single rupee increase in the last 2 years. In such a situation, how will she take care of herself and her family? Along with ensuring the safety of women at the workplace, their mental exploitation should also be stopped. There should be equal pay, equal rights, health insurance, security and no discrimination at the workplace, along with complaints of exploitation of ANM workers should be heard. He says that if his demands are not met before the elections, he will press NOTA.
Big challenge before the administration:
In view of the proposed and ongoing agitation on 21st September, the Lucknow administration and police department seem to be fully prepared. To stop the protesters, heavy police force and barricading preparations have been made at Charbagh and Vidhansabha Marg. However, if the government does not soon take any concrete policy decision on these just demands of the ANM workers, then this protest will continue in the coming days.
Report: Arpit Shukla
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