Demanding that the government pay them a monthly salary of Rs.15,000 and Rs.10,000 respectively, Anganwadi workers and ayahs in the district converged here on Monday and took out an impressive rally.
Beginning at the Rajiv Gandhi Auditorium, the rally culminated in a public meeting at the Collectorate. The agitators squatted on the District Sports Authority Ground when police foiled their attempts to barge into the Collectorate premises.
Other demands include recognising them as government employees, according them retirement benefits, unconditional payment of increased rentals for buildings, immediate release of all arrears, extension of the ‘Amruthahastam’ scheme to ICDS centres, desisting from any attempts at privatising the Anganwadis and payment of additional wages for additional work.
Speaking on the occasion, CITU general secretary A. Ramesh Babu said the government should issue food security cards (FSCs) to anganwadi workers too as they were getting meagre salaries. The Telangana Anganwadi Helpers and Workers Union district president Ch. Bharati and secretary Chukkamma and others also spoke.