A high-level delegation of the AAYA (Anganwadi, Asha, and Yashoda Workers) Association from the Education Department, led by President Mahmooda Akhter, along with senior members Kounser Jan and Shakeela Akhter, met with Abdul Qayoom Wani, Chairman of JK Civil Society (JKCSF) and President of Pensioners United Front, at the Central Office in Srinagar today.
The delegation, under the guidance of Haji Ghulam Qadir Dar, Additional General Secretary of the Civil Society Forum, handed over a demand charter to address the pressing issues faced by AAYA workers in the Education Department.
The workers, who currently receive a meager salary of just ₹5,000 per month, have expressed concerns that this amount is insufficient to meet their basic needs. Many of these workers come from poor families, including orphans, widows, and divorced women, and rely on their work for survival. The AAYA workers are responsible for maintaining hygiene in educational institutions and caring for young children, often working long hours under challenging conditions.
The delegation appealed to Wani and his team to raise their concerns with the administration to ensure that these workers receive fair compensation for their hard work. Mahmooda Akhter, President of the AAYA Workers Association, emphasized that the current wages are not only inadequate but also irregularly paid, making it difficult for workers to make ends meet.
In response, Abdul Qayoom Wani, alongside Senior Vice Chairman Mohammad Sulaiman Bhat and Additional General Secretary Haji Ghulam Qadir Dar, assured the delegation that their organization would take up the issue with the authorities. Wani expressed strong support for the cause, calling it a human issue, and pledged to represent the workers' demands before the relevant government officials.
Wani further appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Education Minister, and the Chief Secretary to look into the matter and consider enhancing the salaries of AAYA workers. He stressed that these workers are integral to the smooth functioning of educational institutions, as they contribute significantly to maintaining a hygienic environment and providing care for young children. Wani highlighted that these workers, despite their low wages, work tirelessly and deserve to be compensated fairly for their efforts.
The delegation left the meeting hopeful that their genuine concerns would be addressed promptly, with a fair resolution that would help improve the livelihood of these hardworking women.
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