Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that he would take up the matter regarding the pending legitimate demands of the Anganwari Workers and helpers associated with the Women Development and Child Welfare project with the Union government.Addressing the gathering after being felicitated by the All India Anganwari Mulaazim Union here today, the Chief Minister also announced that the lists of the promotion of Anganwari workers to Supervisors in the Women Development and Child Welfare department would also be issued soon. He said that due to the centralization of powers by the Union government the rights of the state have reduced so he would take up the matter of pending demands of the Anganwari workers with the Union Government for solving them. Mr. Badal said that he would plead the case of the Anganwari workers in an effective manner so that their problems were redressed.
The Chief Minister said that the scheme to set up Anganwari centers across the state was started on the same day in the year 1975 and 26656 centers were being run across the state in 154 blocks by the 53000 workers and helpers. He said that these Anganwari workers work hard to impart education and health facilities to the kids. Mr. Badal said that from year 2007 the state government has opened 6487 more centers in the state and 6487 Anganwari workers and 5267 helpers have been recruited. He said that the state government would make every effort to ensure the well being of the Anganwari workers.
The Chief Minister said that the policy of the Union government to extend relief to the victims of natural tragedy was far away from the ground realities due to which he would take up the matter of enhancing the compensation with the Prime Minister soon. He said that due to the riders imposed by the Centre the state government was not able to extend a helping hand to the flood victims despite of the fact that they want to give reprieve to the people in this hour of crisis. Mr. Badal said that he would apprise the Prime Minister about the grim situation due to floods in Sri Muktsar Sahib district so as to seek his intervention for the help of flood victims.
The Chief Minister further said that due to the wrong policies of the Union government the country was facing huge crisis. He said that the countrymen were fed up from the Congress led UPA government and have made up their mind to show door to this corrupt and insensitive government. “The day is not far when the NDA government would constitute government at the Centre, with the Shiromani Akali Dal as a key ally” added Mr. Badal.Later on talking to the media persons after presiding over the Zonal Youth Festival at Maharaja Ranjit Singh College Malout, the Chief Minister said that joining of hands by PPP and Congress was hardly an issue as both these parties have been rejected by the wise voters of the state time and again. He said that the joining of hands by these parties would hardly cast any effect on the poll prospects of SAD-BJP alliance. Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP alliance would register spectacular win on all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in ensuing general elections.When asked to comment on labeling of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi as communal by his political opponents, the Chief Minister categorically said that no one was communal in politics adding that the Congress has always followed the policy of ‘pide and Rule’ to achieve their political interests. Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP alliance was fully secular due to which peace, amity, communal harmony and brotherhood prevails in the state.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, MLA Mr. Harpreet Singh and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.