Five Anganwadi workers injured during protest

Bhubaneswar: At least five Anganwadi workers sustained minor injuries today as the police lobbed tear gas and used water canon to disperse a crowd of women who attempted to barge into the assembly here.

The Anganwadi workers, who were on strike since a week demanding regularisation of their jobs, increase in their monthly remmuneration and other benefits given to government employees, today attempted to barge into the prohibitory area near the Assembly.

The agitating women climbed on the police barricade and attempted to enter into the assembly prompting the police to use tear gas. When the mob did not disperse, the police used water canon to stop them from taking law into hands.

In the process, about five women workers sustained minor injuries, police said.

Commissioner of Police R K Sharma said: "The police was strictly instructed not to resort to lathi charge as the aitators were women."

The agitating women said that though they have been implementing a hoast of welfare schemes in the village level, the government has ignored them. There were above 1.4 lakh women anganwadi workers in the state.