Anganwadi workers stage protest; demand wage hike

Bhubaneswar: Vehicular movement at the busy Master Canteen square came to a halt as thousands of workers under the banner of Nikhila Odisha Anganwadi Workers’ Association took to the streets on Wednesday demanding fulfillment of their 16-point charter of demands.

Despite the hot and humid weather, as many as 15,000 Anganwadi workers of the body joined the stir demanding fulfillment of their demands.

The agitating Anganwadi workers took out a rally from Master Canteen Square to the Odisha Assembly.
They had a scuffle with the security personnel who prevented them from marching towards the Assembly.

Later, a delegation of the Association met Woman and Child Development minister Usha Devi at her chamber at the State Secretariat.

But as the concerned secretary and director were absent, the minister assured the delegation of another round meeting on May 10.

Talking to media persons, general secretary of the Association Harapriya Swain said the Association demands a minimum monthly stipend of Rs 15,000, monthly pension of Rs 4000, government employee status to all Anganwadi workers, promotion of all Anganwadi workers to the rank of supervisor and no privatisation of Anganwadis.

“We have repeatedly requested the government to fulfil our demands but to no avail. We will intensify our agitation if the government fails to meet our demands this time,” she added.