PANJIM: Agitating Anganwadi workers of Goa have refused to give a conditional undertaking and get their jobs back. At the cost of deteriorating health and pitiable finances, they have chosen honour over buckling to pressure. They have stopped drinking water from Thursday, the 43nd day of their hunger strike.

They have faced miscreants, no toilet facilities, and no water as they braved on but did not detract from their demands

They were asked to sign an undertaking stating that they will never agate or sit on dharnas before the CM’s residence and accept that they were guilty as charged with dereliction of duty. In return, they would get fresh appointment letters and restart working.

In response, they refused to sign any “declaration of guilt” and intensify their protest by declaring that they would not drink a sip of water, amidst falling health parameters of all seven women.

The President of Goa Union of Anganwadi workers (GUAW) Devyani Tamse said barring one of the seven workers, who has serious health conditions the other six have stopped consuming water. She told Herald, “We will not sign the undertaking which has been sent by CM Pramod Sawant. Why should we sign the undertaking when we have never made any mistake?”

Union leader Hrudaynath Shirodkar informed that the seven protesting Anganwadi workers except Pournima Gaonkar have given up on water.

Adding he said that Gaonkar due to her deteriorating health condition has not given up on water but is continuing to be part of the protest.

Tamse further added that they will hold the government and the concerned authorities responsible for any ill effects that occur on their health.

On July 1, CM Sawant said, “I’ve told them straight forward to withdraw the strike and give us in writing that they will not participate in strikes or do any political interference. After that, we will take them back.”

A week later, he got their response which basically can be summed up like this – ‘We may collapse but we will not buckle’.