Second phase of pulse polio programme begins today, Anganwadi workers in Punjab's Bathinda boycott drive

Anganwadi workers in Punjab's Bathinda have boycotted the pulse polio drive in support of demands for better pay and regularisation of their services, said a media report.According to The Tribune, around 1,800 Anganwadi workers in the district have been protesting for the last few days over the long pending demands. As the Anganwadi workers decided to pull out of the drive, the district health department said that it will arrange things with the help of nursing students, added the report.[caption id="attachment_2389918" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Representational image. Reuters[/caption]Over one lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana have been protesting in support of their demands.According to Hindustan Times, Anganwadi workers have been sitting on a dharna in Bathinda for the past 40 days. In Haryana, they have been on strike since 12 February, while their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir have been protesting for the last 38 days.Meanwhile, the second phase of the pulse polio immunisation drive began in parts of the country on Sunday.In Telangana, a total of 36,55,204 children would be given polio drops at 22,768 booths. A total number of 95,000 people including Auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), Asha workers and Anganwadi workers are engaged in the second phase of pulse polio programme, according to United News of India.In Tamil Nadu's Erode district the drive is being held at 1,287 camps. The district has planned special camps at bus stands, railway stations, said The Hindu.The Pulse Polio programme for 2018 was launched by President Ram Nath Kovind on 27 January at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Over 17 crore children, below five years, across the country, are to be given polio drops as part of the Government of India's 2018 drive.With inputs from PTI