Around 10,000 Anganwadi Workers under the banner of the Nikhila Odisha Anganwadi Workers’ Association (NOAWA) affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Wednesday took to the streets here demanding fulfilment of their 16-point charter of demands.
Vehicular movement at the busy Master Canteen Square came to a halt for hours as the thousands of agitators marched towards the State Assembly shouting slogans in support of their demands.
The Anganwadi Workers had a scuffle with security personnel when the latter tried to prevent them from breaking the security barricades installed before the Assembly.
Many women fell unconscious due to the heat wave and were admitted at the Capital Hospital.
Chanting slogans against the Government for its apathetic attitude, they demanded a minimum monthly allowance of `15,000, pension of `3,000 and regular jobs.
“Neither do we get benefits like daily labourers nor as Government employees. We are yet to be promoted to ANM-School teacher rank as announced by the Central Government in 2011. We are getting a measly amount of `4,000 a month which is insufficient. We demand a minimum monthly allowance of `15,000, a minimum pension of `3,000 on retirement and regularisation of our jobs,” said an agitator.
The other demands included retirement facility, 100-per cent promotion to the post of supervisors, ANM and teachers from among Anganwadi Workers, recognition of Government employees, etc.
Association president Dutikrushna Panda demanded that the State Government take immediate measures to address the demands of the Anganwadi Workers. later, a delegation met Women and Child Development Minister Usha Devi and submitted a memorandum to her.