Anganwadi workers on warpath

Demand early solution to their problems

Protests held at several places

Jammulamadugu (Kadapa): Anganwadi workers under the banner of CITU and the All-India Trade Union Congress staged dharna in front of the revenue divisional office here on Friday, demanding the government to resolve their pending issues.The protestors appealed to the government to pay minimum wages and provide retirement benefits. Later they submitted a memorandum to RDO K Vinayakam.

Kalyandurg (Anantapur): About 1,800 Anganwadi workers held a dharna in front of the revenue divisional office here. They urged the government to pay minimum wages and provide retirement benefits. Local Congress leaders extended support to the protest. The workers and leaders submitted a memorandum to RDO Rama Rao.

Kurnool: Anganwadi workers organised a dharna at the Collectorate appealing to the administration to consider them as government employees and pay minimum wages. The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Association district vice-president Sudharani expressed anguish over the TDP government’s failure for not increasing their wages despite several protests.

Nellore: The Anganwadi workers took to the streets on Friday in all constituencies of the district demanding that their problems be resolved. In the town, they staged a sit-in under the banner of CITU at the Revenue Divisional office, after taking out a huge rally.Addressing the protesters, CITU leader Ajay Kumar accused the government of using the Anganwadi workers as bonded labourers, paying them a meagre honorarium. He said the amount was being paid either once in three months or six months.

Kumar alleged that the government was ignoring the interests of the Anganwadi workers. He demanded that the workers be recognised as government staff, paid a minimum salary of Rs.15,000 each, provided job security and increased allocations to the ‘Swavalambhana’ and Savings schemes. He urged the government to regularise the services of contract employees.The CITU leader warned if the demands were not conceded early, the agitation would be intensified and the government would have to face the wrath of the Anganwadi workers.Similar protests were organised in front of the Revenue Divisional Offices in the district. Dharnas were held in Gudur, Sullurpet and Udayagiri towns.

bid to lay siege to RDO offices

Srikakulam: Over 600 Anganwadi workers were arrested and later released on personal bonds in Srikakulam district when they tried to lay siege to the Revenue Divisional Offices (RDO) on Friday in protest against the government’s apathy in resolving their problems.The Anganwadi workers took out rallies to the RDO offices at Srikakulam, Tekkali and Palakonda and staged dharnas in front of the offices demanding hike in salary and better service conditions. Vexed with the negligent attitude of the officials, the agitators tried to gatecrash into the offices.

The police arrested nearly 600 protesters and shifted them to the local police stations. They were later released. Addressing the agitators, Anganwadi Workers’ Union leaders Himaprabha and D Nagamani said, “The government is apathetic in resolving our problems despite repeated requests.Currently we are being paid Rs 4,000 per month, which is not sufficient to meet our requirements when compared with the present market conditions.”