Participating in the demands for grants of Social Welfare Department in Legislative Assembly today, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that BJP government claims of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas” has proved only hoax as it has instead of increasing budgetary allocations to social welfare schemes including Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), drastically cut the allocations particularly of ICDS by more than half.While budget 2014-2015 allotted RS 18391 crores to ICDS, in 2015-16 it was only Rs 8754 crores. The scheme is being proclaimed by GoI as its flagship programme, wherein lacs of workers mostly women are employed. The Anganwadi employees expected long due enhancement in their remuneration and pension from Finance Minister but they got disappointed, The CPI (M) leader stated.
While referring to first women Chief Minister of the state who seems to believe in women welfare, Tarigami questioned about the plight of thousands of Anganwadi workers and helpers working in the State.The minimum this government could have done was to increase the State Share to enhance the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers, he added.“It is obvious the way this government claims to be working for unorganized sector, while taking away the few existing benefits impudently. Despite consistent struggles and demands of Anganwadi employees they are not being provided even minimum wages.
”While noting the government response on his motion regarding reasons of disengagement of Anganwadi helpers to supervisors across the state where the government has denied any disengagement, the CPI (M) leader said that these helpers are without wages for months together, how they could survive, he questioned.Despite tall claims regarding different schemes like, Old Age Pension, widow, disabled, pre matric & post matric scholarship, the fact is that they are not getting their due and there is virtually no sense of urgency with the authorities to look into their long pending demands, he observed and said that in Kulgam district itself 12957 cases under these schemes are still pending and asked the ministry to clear these cases on priority. Referring to tribal community the CPI(M) leader said that despite assurances, the fact remains that whatever benefits offered are confined to creamy sections of this community while majority remains neglected. (KNS)