Members of the CITU-affiliated All-India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) Union laid siege to the Collectorate here on Friday to press for their demands including withdrawal of the move to privatise some Anganwadi centres in Prakasam district.
Leading the stir by more than 600 health workers, AIFAWH district president M.Manoja urged the government to implement all the promises made during their agitation in February including provision of monthly minimum pay of Rs. 15,000 for each Anganwadi worker.
Speaking on the occasion, CITU district general secretary Ch. Srinivasa Rao demanded that the government recognise Anganwadi workers and helpers as public servants and extend social security benefits including gratuity and pension.
ICDS Project Director Vidyavathi promised to ensure early release of the pay of anganwadi workers which had been pending for the last three months. The other demands included construction of buildings for all anganwadi centres and clearance of pending travelling allowance bills.
Vizianagaram Correspondent adds: Citing suspensions of anganwadi workers at the behest of political leaders and pressure from the district officials to discharge additional work as booth level officers, a large number of anganwadi workers on Friday staged a dharna at the Collector’s office.
District Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Union president M. Uma Maheswari said despite the government order issued to Collectors in January 2010 not to assign BLOs’ work to anganwadi workers, the district administration had been forcing them to do it and also other works.
Led by CITU national secretary Tapan Sen, State CITU secretaries Roja and Sai Babu met V. Sampath, Chief Election Commission, in New Delhi on Wednesday and explained him their problems, she said.
Further, Ms. Uma alleged that due to pressure from political quarters, 10 anganwadi workers had been suspended during the last four months over petty reasons. Complaints against some more anganwadis were pending for action before the Collector, she added. She wanted the government to check political interference, pay minimum wages and sanctioning of retirement benefits like PF and gratuity.
