Demanding hike in allowances for the Anganwadi workers and the up-gradation of the mini-anganwadi centres among others, the Anganwadi Workers’ Organisation took out a rally from Parade Ground to Secretariat on Monday.
large number of protesters assembled at Parade Ground and took out rally up to Secretariat while raising slogans against the State Government, slamming its failure to address their long-pending demands.
The district administration strengthened security in the city in view of the stir. Police in adequate numbers were witnessed too to maintain peace. The protesters were stopped outside the Secretariat barricade put up by police. Police and the agitators were involved in arguments as the latter were trying to break through the barricade.
The protesters said that they are being mentally and financially exploited by the Government by not addressing their demands. They alleged that though several memorandums have been served the Government has not done anything to declare Anganwadi workers as Government employees. This is despite the fact that the Government had accepted the demand long back, one of the agitators said.
Their demands include Anganwadi workers be declared as State Government employees and they be paid similar to other Government employees and up-gradation mini-anganwadi centres. Among those who attended the rally were Jyoti Pandey, Pratima, Jeeega, Saroj, Rajeshwari and Sunita, Geeta.