Anganwadi workers protesting in Ongole on Monday. , Photo Credit: Kommuri Srinivas
Thousands of anganwadi workers took to the streets in south-coastal Andhra Pradesh on Monday, demanding better wages and social security benefits.
Raising slogans in support of their demands, the workers took part in a massive procession from the VRC Center to the Collectorate in Nellore. They demanded that the government do away with the facial recognition-based attendance system, which they said was a major source of trouble for them in villages due to poor network connectivity.
In Prakasam district, the CITU-affiliated All-India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) stormed the Prakasam building in Ongole, demanding a minimum wage of ₹26,000 as ordered by the Supreme Court.
“It is unfortunate that we are being denied the benefits of welfare schemes, including Amma Vodi, on the pretext that we are government employees. But we are paid a nominal honorarium,” said K.K. Ramadevi complained.
He said that Anganwadi workers are working hard to ensure that nutritious food is supplied to children and pregnant and lactating women, and demanded the government to supply cooking gas, which will reach the Rs 1,100 level. as well as other essential commodities whose prices were skyrocketing. He said that he would intensify his agitation by organizing ‘Vijayawada Chalo’ and ‘Delhi Chalo’ programmes.