Anganwadi workers from across Mysore district staged a demonstration here on Friday seeking regularisation of their service and enhancement of minimum wage to Rs. 10,000 a month. They also opposed privatisation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
Led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), anganwadi workers said many of them had toiled for nearly 38 years in the service of society but it had gone unrecognised. Devoid of social security benefits, the condition of anganwadi workers was miserable and even the pension scheme had failed to provide security cover as it was market linked, according to the Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Association.
Drawing attention to their working conditions, association members said many of the anganwadi centres lacked basic amenities. Payment of honorarium due to workers was also being delayed, they said. Listing their major demands, the members urged the government to establish a department to implement the ICDS scheme instead of privatising it and wanted the government to abrogate its agreement to implement the ICDS scheme through a private agency. It sought enhancement of minimum wage of nearly 15,000 anganwadi workers to Rs. 10,000 a month.
The protest was part of a Statewide agitation. The CITU had a list of 23 demands including extension of housing facilities for anganwadi workers and free education for their children. Anganwadi workers walked through the thoroughfares of the city and submitted a memorandum in support of their demands at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
