Anganwadi workers and helpers federation took out a protest rally in Belagavi on Wednesday, demanding cancellation of the Matru Poorna scheme and increase in wages.
Protesters walked from Rani Channamma Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office shouting slogans. They said that the scheme of feeding cooked meals to pregnant women had completely failed as they were not coming to anganwadi centres. The scheme should be cancelled and the previous system of distribution of foodgrains restored, they said.
They demanded that they be paid Rs. 18,000 per month as per the recommendation of the Central government’s committee on minimum wages. They wanted the government to promote anganwadi workers on seniority basis and scrap the KPSC examination that they are now required to pass. The anganwadi bank accounts should be opened and managed by the anganwadi teacher and worker, and advisory members should not be allowed to manage the account.
Since the Union government had increased the price of gas cylinders, the government should pay them Rs. 800 per month, they said. They demanded ESI and gratuity benefits and a pension of Rs. 3,000 per month after retirement.
They submitted a memorandum to the government and dispersed.
Anita Kammannache, Meenaxi Totagi, Yellubai Shigerihalli, Anil Ajagaonkar, Prakash Desai, Nagesh Sateri and others were present.
