Tasasuq Rashid

Anantnag, Dec 23 (KNS): Dozens of ICDS Supervisors on Wednesday protested at Sports Stadium Anantnag here and appealed authorities to release their monthly salary which has been help up from last 8-month.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent, protesters were seen raising slogans against Director General ICDS Department and other officials of the administration. They were demanding the release of their 8-month's salary that has been held up without any reasons.

"We are without salaries from last 8-months amidst Covid19 trauma. Though we communicated and raked up the voice multiple times but our pleas were thrown into dustbin", a woman leader Abida Parveen told KNS who came from Srinagar to attend the protest and address the gathering.

She said the Government has ignored our miseries and have considered us a "dejected lot". "We have become a dejected lot as treatment from Government speaks clearly. In times of Covid19 it is difficult for us to survive. We are unable to feed our families now. We have been reached at a point where Government left us no option but to end our lives", Abida told.

She appealed Government to address their genuine demands at an earliest and added the ICDS Supervisors will go for indefinite strike till December 31st.

"After 31st Dec, we will sit and chalk out future strategy, if our demands are not fulfilled till then", she added.

Other protesting ICDS Supervisors told KNS that besides no release of salary, there is also an issue of no promotion given to genuine employees.

"Our district program offices are without program officers and additional charge syndrome has rotten the work culture in the department", they said.

They appealed LG Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and ensure justice within the department. (KNS)