Andhra Pradesh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union members staging a protest in front of the Collectorate in Chittoor on Monday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Anganwadi workers, led by the Andhra Pradesh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate here on Monday to demand the fulfillment of long-pending government promises.
The protest, part of a statewide movement, was led by the union’s district honorary president Vada Gangaraju and district secretary Ms. Shakeela. They criticised the previous YSRCP government for failing to address issues affecting anganwadi workers and the current coalition government for not fulfilling the poll promises.
Mr. Gangaraju said workers had not seen a salary raise since 2019. The mini centres, which operate with low wages, are not yet upgraded to main centres, affecting over 5,600 workers in the district.
The protestors said that the Supreme Court ruling in 2022, which declared that the anganwadi workers should be eligible for graduate status, is not yet implemented. Despite repeated appeals to government officials and the Chief Minister, they lamented that no action had been taken to resolve these issues.
The union also demanded that the anganwadi workers’ salary be increased to ₹20,000, pending bills be released, and various welfare schemes be implemented. They urged the government to bring their issues for discussion in the upcoming State Assembly Budget session.
Published – February 17, 2025 08:15 pm IST