Pune: Anganwadi workers plan ‘jail bharo andolan’, to court arrest on Thursday

Mumbai: Maharashtra Anganwadi Workers’ Action Committee members protest against the state government, at Azad Maidan, in Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

The agitation by anganwadi workers is set to intensify, with the striking anganwadi workers planning a jail bharo andolan on Thursday. In Pune, more than 2,000 anganwadi workers will stage protests at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan and court arrest.

Over 2 lakh anganwadi workers in Maharashtra have been on indefinite strike from September 11 to press for their demand for a hike in the honorarium, said Nilesh Dhatkile, secretary of the state Anganwadi Workers Association. The anganwadis operate schemes such as supplementary nutrition and health services for children below six years of age and day care for pre-primary schoolchildren. The workers have been demanding a pay rise, based on their seniority and education. Various committees were appointed to look into the demands by the workers, and meetings were held with Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde, but to no avail.