A few hours after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met a group of agitating Anganwadi Workers and assured them to look into their demands at the State Secretariat here on Tuesday, he announced a hike in their salary in the evening.
Speaking to mediapersons, Patnaik said his State Government has hiked the salary of the Anganwadi Workers.
Accordingly, the salary of the Anganwadi Workers was enhanced to Rs 6,000 per month, the salary of Mini-Anganwadi Workers to Rs 4,125 and of the Helpers Rs 3,000.
“My Government has always looked after the interest of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers and Mini-Anganwadi Workers. They have a significant role in care and protection of women and children. I’m pleased to announce that the State Government has decided to enhance their honorariums.”
“They shall also come under insurance coverage for health, life, disability, scholarship. The State Government shall bear the premium costs. The Anganwadi Workers, Mini-Anganwadi Workers, Anganwadi Helpers shall be covered under the CMRF,” he added and wished a happy Diwali to them.
Earlier in the day, the 36-day Anganwadi Workers’ stir took a new turn with one group announcing to have called off their protest while another group said they would continue to sit on dharna at the lower PMG here.
The group belonging to the BJD’s trade union Biju Shramik Sammukhya ended their strike after a meeting with Chief Minister. The group headed by BJD leader Subash Singh met Chief Minister at the Secretariat, following which the activists called off their stir.
It may be mentioned that the Anganwadi Workers have been sitting on a dharna at the lower PMG for the last 36 days pressing for fulfilment of their various demands, including salary hike.
A leader of the rival Anganwadi Workers’ union backed by the CITU alleged, “The Government is trying to create a rift within the Anganwadi Workers’ Association by giving money to some of our activists. A few middlemen of the ruling BJD are involved in dividing the association.”