Anganwadi workers from all over the state gathered in Bhopal on Saturday. They staged a sit-in at Neelam Park and demanded permanent, direct recruitment and health insurance, government should also increase the salary of Anganwadi workers and assistants.
Anganwadi workers protested for about three hours. Anganwadi workers from across the state participated in it. The demonstration was held under the banner of Madhya Pradesh Anganwadi Karyakarta Sahayika Sangh, Bhopal, a subsidiary organization led by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. A memorandum was also handed over to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Anganwadi workers, assistants and mini Anganwadi workers should be declared as government employees. They should also get the benefits of all government facilities.
The rules of the appointment process should be amended. Rules should be made for regular and direct recruitment in place of honorarium.
Until the appointment process is amended, the honorarium should be paid by applying a dearness allowance fixed from the center in the additional honorarium and Rs 25000 should be given to the Anganwadi worker and 125000 to the helper.
Everyone should also be given health insurance of 5 lakhs, included in the eligibility of Ayushman Yojana. Duty should not be imposed in work other than the Women and Child Development Department. All material related to nutrition, sports, health should be made available at the centers within the time limit.
Maximum buildings should be made available for Anganwadi centers. At least 15 days of summer vacation should be provided for all. On the basis of 10 years of experience, education and seniority, direct recruitment should be done on the post of supervisor without any examination.
Anganwadi workers, assistants should not be retired until they are declared as government employees, because their right is the only means of livelihood.