Anganwadi workers from Maharashtra will go on a two-day strike from Tuesday as their demands have not yet been met by the State government, after their protest last month. The workers have also threatened to continue their Jail Bharo Andolan that has been planned in February.
Anganwadi workers from across the State had gathered in Azad Maidan to protest against the delay in regulating the Centre’s order of an increase in their honorarium. A day later, a delegation of Maharashtra Rajya Anganwadi Kruti Samiti (MRAKS), an umbrella body of seven anganwadi unions, had met with Rajgopal Deora, principal secretary Finance (Reforms), and Vinita Ved-Singhal, secretary, Women and Child Welfare Ministry.
However, on Monday, the delegation said that while the discussions in December were positive, there has been no development since. “We have not been called again to Mantralaya. They have said our matter is being looked into, but we haven’t heard from them,” Shubha Shamim, member of the Centre for Trade Unions, who was a part of the delegation, said.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, anganwadi workers and helpers will gather at Azad Maidan in red clothes to support the nationwide strike called by 10 centrally recognised trade unions for minimum wages and social security, including pension for all workers, and against amendments to the labour law.
Workers and helpers from the other parts of the State will protest at the State-level and taluka-level on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. They will raise the issue of honorarium, minimum wages, pension and unemployment. “We have also sought appointments in Mantralaya and are hoping to receive a positive response,” said a member of the MRAKS.
M.A. Patil, one of the core team members of MRAKS, said that they were expecting a response from Mantralaya. “If there is no response at all or if we do not see development in our matter, we will not think twice before starting the Jail Bharo Andolan between February 11 and 13,” he said.
