Thousands of Anganwadi workers took out a massive rally in Bhubaneswar on Monday protesting against the State government’s alleged apathetic attitude towards their various demands.
The workers, protesting under the banner of All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers’ Association, marched towards the State Legislative Assembly from Master Canteen Square, demanding increase in their wages and abolishing the old Anganwadi scheme in order to get them the recognition as government employees.
The protesting workers demanded minimum of Rs 21,000 monthly salary and Rs 10,500 monthly pay for Anganwadi helpers.
A protesting Anganawadi worker said, “If the government does not take appropriate steps to fulfill our demands, we will continue to hit streets."
She went on to say that they will also protest during the upcoming Budget session of the State Assembly in March next year and will not allow the administration to carry out the business in the House.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Accredited Social Health Activists (Asha) workers also staged a protest in front of the State Legislative Assembly today, pressing the government to raise the issue of their allowance and pension scheme in the Cabinet meeting. They demanded a hike in their minimum monthly salary to Rs 21,000.
One of the protesting ASHA workers alleged that the government had deceived them one more time by not raising their allowance, and they will continue to protest in future if the demand were not met.