The streets around Freedom Park here have virtually turned into their homes as thousands of anganwadi workers remained resolute in their strike that entered the third day on Wednesday. The impasse between the government and the anganwadi workers continues as the protesters are demanding the announcement of a minimum wage of ₹10,000 for workers.
The State government held talks with some unions in the evening in the hope of finding a resolution. However, the two major unions leading the strike — All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) — who did not attend the talks said they would continue with the agitation until their demands are met.
Hajir Habibi, anganwadi worker from Channapatna, said they were not deterred despite having to queue up for hours outside the toilets, and emptying their purses to buy food from nearby restaurants.
Speeches continued to ring through the noise of traffic as numerous organisations extended support to the strike which saw at least 13 women being treated by paramedics after they collapsed because of dehydration and exhaustion.
The mass of women gathered seemed to swell on the third day — belying the worry of organisers who thought that many would go back to their villages, ahead of Ugadi festival next week.
Among those who arrived on Wednesday was Yellava Kallapa Pujuri from Hirur village in Belagavi taluk. Lugging bags of mattresses and food, it was clear that the anganwadi worker with more than 25 years of experience was preparing herself for a long haul. “I didn’t know about the protest at all. On Tuesday, I saw news reports and decided to immediately take a bus and come here. Now, I won’t leave until our demands are met,” she said.
City reaches out
The strike, however, seemed to bring out the best of the city. The civic bodies — the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board — deployed more than 10 mobile toilets and tankers with drinking water at the site of the protest. The doors of Maharani College nearby were opened for the workers to use.
Passers-by and others were seen distributing biscuits, fruits and water bottles. Among those who was impressed by the dedication of the women was Sunil Kumar Surana, who runs a jewellery shop in Gandhinagar. He and workers from the store arranged for over 150 kg of pulao for the anganwadi workers who queued patiently. “I read in the papers and saw on TV how the workers do not get proper food ... We can feed 2,500 people with this, and we hope to do this as long as the strike continues,” he said.
In the Legislative Assembly, JD(S) members staged a dharna on Wednesday, urging the State government to hold consultations with the representatives of the anganwadi workers.
