Police trying to remove Anganwadi workers during a protest in Vijayawada on Monday. , Photo Credit: KVS Giri
Several Anganwadi workers and helpers across Andhra Pradesh were detained and put under house arrest on March 20 (Monday) as their ‘Chalo Vijayawada’ program was thwarted by the police. The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and its allied organizations called for the protest program to pressurize the state government to address the long-pending problems of Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Tension prevailed on Eluru Road in Vijayawada as hundreds of Anganwadi workers staged a rasta roko near Besant Road junction and raised slogans that the government should fulfill the promises made by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Traffic on Eluru Road, one of the busiest roads in the city, was disrupted for hours due to the protest.
Anganwadi workers also protested at Padavala Revu Centre, Lenin Center and other areas, but were confronted by the police.
The police, including women officers, took into custody the Anganwadi workers who were protesting on the streets.
The CPI(M) alleged that around 2,600 anganwadi workers and helpers were detained at Eluru Road and other places in the city, before being taken to Forest Town, Ajith Singh Nagar, Machavaram, Governorpet, Krishnalanka, Patamata, Bhavanipuram, Nunna and transferred to Ibrahimpatnam police. stations. Hundreds of them were shifted to a function hall at Satyanarayana Puram and CAR Grounds in the city.
The protesters raised slogans against the government and also staged a sit-in at the police stations.
State Secretariat member of CPI(M) Ch. Babu Rao said thousands of anganwadi workers and helpers tried to participate in protests across the state and were arrested. He alleged that applications seeking permission to protest were ignored by the police.
He said that Bujji, an Anganwadi teacher, suffered a heart attack when the police confronted the protesters. He was taken to the Government General Hospital. Later the prisoners were released.
Anganwadi workers allege that they have not received salary for the last two months. They demanded that the government should clear the pending bills and increase their salaries.
“An employee is earning Rs 11,500 per month, while a helper is getting Rs 7,000. We request the government to increase the salary of anganwadi workers and helpers,” said anganwadi worker Rani.
“Workers and helpers are buying vegetables and groceries to prepare meals at Anganwadi centers as the government is not clearing the bills. For how many days can we buy vegetables and groceries from our pocket and feed the children?” Swaroopa, an anganwadi helper asked.
Ms. Rani alleged that even though the Anganwadi workers did not create any law and order problem, hundreds of them were arrested.