Odisha Anganwadi workers protest demanding govt employee status, better pay

Pressing for their various demands, several members of the All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers’ Association staged a protest in front of the District Collector’s office in Sundargarh on Thursday.

As per reports, they are demanding recognition as government employees, a minimum salary of Rs 18,000, a one-time retirement benefit of Rs 10 lakh, and mobile phones for the implementation of nutrition schemes.

The protesters alleged that despite repeated demands, the government has failed to respond to their issues and continues to make only empty promises.

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"Anganwadi service has been continuing for the last 50 years. It is continuing as a yojana. We demand for a monthly salary of Rs 18,000 for the Anganwadi workers and Rs 9,000 for the helpers. Following the retirement, Anganwadi workers and helpers are only provided assistance of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, respectively. The Anganwadi workers and helpers should be provided a one-time retirement benefit of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively. In place of disengagement, retirement should be mentioned," said All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers’ Association Secretary Bimal Lakra.

"We have earlier submitted our demands through the CDPO. We again submitted our demands through the Collector today. If our demands are not fulfilled, all the Anganwadi workers across the state will hit the streets in the coming days. We will force the government to accept our demands. We have fought at the block, district, and state levels. Though they are giving us assurances, our demands are not fulfilled," rued a protesting Anganwadi worker.