Anganwadi workers lay siege to Kakinada Collectorate, demand wage hike and welfare benefits
Kakinada, July 10 (TNT): Anganwadi workers affiliated to the CITU-led Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union staged a siege of the Kakinada Collectorate on Friday as part of the Anganwadi National Demands Day, pressing for an increase in wages and implementation of welfare schemes.
The protesters raised slogans demanding scrapping of the Navachethana App, reduction of workload, and payment of a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month.
They also sought implementation of welfare schemes for Anganwadi workers and helpers as assured by the coalition government.
The workers demanded extension of Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) facilities and pension benefits to Anganwadi employees.
Addressing the gathering, union president Dadala Padma, secretary Yerubandi Chandravathi, CITU district president Duvva Seshu Babji and secretary Chekkala Rajkumar alleged that the BJP-led Central government had failed to fulfil its promise of increasing Anganwadi wages despite the assurance being made 11 years ago.
They said rising prices of essential commodities, house rents, cooking gas and electricity bills had added to the financial burden on Anganwadi workers, making their lives increasingly difficult.
Later, a delegation of Anganwadi workers met ICDS Project Director Cherukuri Lakshmi and submitted a memorandum listing their demands.
The workers took out a rally from the Collectorate to Pithapuram Raja Centre, where it culminated in a public meeting.
TNT TMR
