JANUARY 8, a delegation of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers(AIFAWH) -CITU,  met the family of the anganwadi helper who was gang-raped and murdered in a temple in Badaun, UP. The delegation comprised A R Sindhu, president and Usharani, general secretary of AIFAWH, along with UP anganwadi union president, Veena Gupta, general secretary, Chaman Ara and Niger Parveen, an advocate and activist of CITU.

The delegation met the family members of the anganwadi helper who was brutally gang-raped and murdered in a temple in Badaun district of UP and expressed condolences. The delegation assured all solidarity and assistance in getting justice to the murdered anganwadi helper. The deceased woman has five children including two minor girls who are studying and an unemployed son.

The delegation condemned the attitude of the minister and department of women and child development, which is yet to condemn the heinous act, in spite of  the fact that the  murdered woman was a government servant in this department.

Given the track record of BJP led Yogi government in UP in previous cases like Unnao, Hathras, Badaun(2014) etc., and the total insensitivity by the police in handling the present case, delay in the postmortem, filing FIR, arresting the main accused who was found in the same village, there are  all chances that the culprits will get off scot-free.

The delegation later met the ADM and submitted a memorandum with the following demands:
•         Adequate compensation to the family and government job to her dependents.

•         Ensure the safety of the family of the woman.

•         Ensure a speedy trial in the case. Proper legal assistance to be provided to the family.

•         Exemplary punishment to all those in police and administration who are guilty of the delay in dealing with the case.

•         Gender sensitisation of the police and administration of UP must be undertaken immediately.

The other members of the delegation were UP state anganwadi union leaders, Zainab Jahan, Mithilesh, Manoj, Madhuri, Alka, Rajeev Shant and Sharif.

CITU and AIFAWH also demanded the removal of Chandramukhi Devi, member NCW who had passed derogatory statement against the murdered woman.

AIFAWH has already given a call for protest against the brutal murder. Anganwadi workers and helpers throughout the country came out spontaneously in protest against this gruesome crime.
CITU and AIFAWH will intensify the campaign and struggles against violence against women.