The members of the Undivided Dakshina Kannada (Udupi) District Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association staged a dharna at Tiger Circle here on Monday seeking the fulfilment of their demands.
G.R. Shivashankar, President of the Karnataka Anganwadi Workers Federation, said the revised timetable issued by the State government was forcing the anganwadi workers and assistants to put in two-and-a-half hours of extra work. Earlier, the anganwadis used to function from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. But after the revision, they had to function from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The government should restore old timings.
At present, the anganwadi workers and assistants received honorariums of Rs. 4,500 and Rs. 2,250 a month respectively. The amount should be increased to Rs. 10,000 a month for the workers and Rs. 7,000 a month for assistants. The harassment of anganwadi workers and assistants by government officers and supervisors must stop, he said.
