Anganwadi workers celebrate as Govt concedes demands

Anganwadi workers and assistants ended their 47-day long strike on Sunday as state’s BJP regime conceded their four key demands.

Buoyed by government decision, hundreds of striking Anganwadi workers took out a grand rally on Sunday to mark their victory.

A delegation of Anganwadi workers earlier had a meeting with state government officials. Secretary, Women and Child Welfare, Dr M. Gita, Joint Secretary Dr Anil Chaudhary, President Gazetted Officer Association Subhash Mishra attended the meeting to find a breakthrough.

In the meeting the government officials assured that they will forward a proposal to central government to pay wages to the Anganwadi Workers on Collector rates.

As long as they get approval, the state government would increase their wages. The officials in the meeting also agreed on providing certain allowances to the Anganwadi workers.

It was also agreed at the meeting to reinstate the terminated workers after completing the necessary procedures. The ex-gratia amount paid to family members on death during the service period was also increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.  The delegation of Anganwadi workers were also assured of providing social security schemes

Delighted over government’s decision, the Anganwadi workers later took out a victory rally from Lakhe Nagar Ground which passed key roads in Raipur. The delegation of Anganwadi workers present at the meeting were Padmawati Sahu, Taj Begum, Rukhmani Sajjan, Gayatri Bahul, Nrendra Chandrakar, Rakesh Sahu, Radheshyam Verma.