Mrunal Manmay Dash

Bhubaneswar: Thousands of members of All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association (AOALWA) on Monday staged a protest in front of Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) demanding fulfilment of their long pending demands.

A delegation of Anganwadi workers' outfit, which is affiliated to Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh met the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Minister of Women & Child Development & Mission Shakti and handed over a 16 point charter to them.

Some of their major demands include status of government employee to anganwadi & mini anganwadi workers, fixation of minimum wage of Rs 18,000 for anganwadi workers and Rs 9,000 for the assistants until their regularisation under state government’s pay role, a month-long holiday in the summers, cooking facilities like LPG gas at all anganwadi centres & gratuity of Rs 2 Lakhs at the time of retirement.

“Although we were threatened to be sacked if we continue with our strike, the enthusiasm shown by all the workers for the cause is praiseworthy and we hope that now government will cede to our demands," said an agitating anganwadi worker.

BasantSahu, Odisha chief of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh said, “Anganwadi workers in other states get a lot more salary than ours. This is a fight for our right and we won’t buzz until the government assures us.”

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