Striking anganwadi workers seek fulfillment of their demands

Members of Rajya Anganawadi Naukarara Sangha(CITU), staged a protest in front of DC’s office in Madikeri on Monday, urging for fulfillment of various demands.

They demanded the government to fix a minimum salary of Rs 15,000 to anganwadi workers and Rs 10,000 to the assistants. Also, the retired anganwadi workers should be provided a retirement benefit of Rs two lakh, and a monthly pension of Rs 3,000, they said.

Briefing reporters, Association General Secretary A Mahadevu said the government has not responded to the problems of anganwadi workers and assistants, despite submitting pleas to the government many times earlier. Hence, the association has been staging protests day and night, he said and alleged that the district administration is also not responding to the workers problems. The protests will continue until the demands are fulfilled, he added.

Association district committee member Bhagirathi said that the anganwadi workers are deployed into various other works of the government, which has burdened the workers. The uniforms provided to anganwadi workers is of poor quality. Hence, instead of providing uniforms, the price of the uniform Rs 600 should be deposited to the bank account of the workers, she urged.

Anganwadi workers association (CITU) district committee President Chendira Kaveramma, members Savitri, Nirmala and others were present. Briefing reporters in Madikeri on Monday, Anganwadi  workers association advisor T P Ramesh said association will stage a protest in front of DC’s office in Madikeri on February 13, urging for the fulfillment of demands such as hike in the payment, work security and the like.

He said that currently, the anganwadi workers have been paid an honorarium of Rs 3,500 and Rs 2,000 by the central and state governments respectively while, the anganwadi assistants are paid Rs 1,750 and 1,000 by Central and state governments. It has been very difficult to manage with this amount.

Hence, both the central and state governments should hike the honorarium amount.  assistants. Anganwadi workers should be paid a minimum of Rs 12,000 per month and assistants should be paid a minimum of Rs 8,000 per month. May the anganwadi workers also witness the ‘acche din’, he commented and added that  on February 13, a protest rally will be taken from Gandhi Maidan, Madikeri and a memorandum will be submitted to both the central and state governments through the DC.