Team Herald
PANJIM: The three Anganwadi workers along with four others who have been on a chain hunger strike for the past 45 days, protesting the termination of their services in April this year, continued their strike without consuming water for the third day.
On Saturday, one of the protestors, Vidya Naik was taken ill and had to be shifted to the health centre when her blood sugar dropped below the normal range of 70 mg/dl.
“The health condition of all the protesting Anganwadi workers is deteriorating quickly. The insensitive government has no humanity. Such an egoistic person is not fit to occupy the chair of Chief Minister”, said Union leader Hrudaynath Shirodkar.
The protestor who was admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) on Saturday was suffering from chest pain and palpitations, vice-president of the Goa Union of Anganwadi workers (GUAW) Jyoti Kerkar said.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Women and Child has already replaced three of the seven protesting Anganwadi workers, Kerkar told Herald on Saturday.
Rashmita Naik, who was working at an Anganwadi at Quepem, and Pournima Gaonkar and Kadhija Attnikar who were employed at Dharbandora, have been replaced with new Anganwadi sevikas, said Kerkar.
“None of the 1500 Anganwadi workers in the State have given us their support as they are scared they will lose their jobs. The government has threatened to terminate their services as well if they support the protest,” added Kerkar.
“Is the CM listening? If CM does not take notice, we will leave it to God”; says Devyani Tamse, President of the Goa Union of Anganwadi workers.
