Bhubaneswar: A large number of Anganwadi workers staged a demonstration in Bhubaneswar on Friday to press for their nine-point charter of demands, including pay hike, pension and other retirement benefits.
As the monsoon session of the state Assembly commenced, thousands of Anganwadi workers staged their protest at Lower PMG in the state capital under the banner of All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association.
The demonstrators said their major demands include government employee status to all Anganwadi workers, Rs 9,000 monthly salary for helpers, and Rs 5 lakh retirement benefit and monthly pension.
The slogan-shouting protesters threatened to intensify their agitation to ensure fulfilment of their demands.
Stating that they had staged a protest in November last year, they said the stir was called off after a letter from the Chief Secretary with a promise to call a meeting in February. However, no step has so far been taken to meet our demands, they claimed.
The protesters said that Anganwadi workers should be declared permanent government workers. Similarly, Rs 18,000 monthly salary each should be fixed for Anganwadi workers and Rs 9,000 salary for helpers. Several Anganwadi workers who were suspended due to political rivalry should be reinstated, they said, demanding retirement benefits of up to 5 lakh and Rs 5000 monthly pension after retirement.
Claiming that all other states have hiked the salary of Anganwadi workers, they said the Odisha government has been apathetic towards them. The protesters further threatened to boycott the next general elections is their demands are not met.