R B Jagadish

Daijiworld Media Network – Karkal (EP)

Karkala, Jul 8: Anganwadi workers and assistants held mass protests in front of taluk office here on Saturday, July 7 demanding implementation of their 15 demands.

Taluk level president of their association, Padmavathi Ameen addressed the protesters. Their demands were minimum salary of Rs 18,000 per month for workers and assistants, minimum pension of Rs 6,000 after service, their services should be made permanent with facilities of C and D grade employees, increase in salaries for Anganwadi workers during service in the model of Goa, ESI, provident fund and gratuity, sites for site less among them, state government should continue to provide nutritious food to beneficiary children, pregnant women and new mothers, entrust and train Anganwadi workers for LKG and UKG classes, action against private schools violating rules, 50% preference for graduate workers for employment in government departments on seniority, providing gas cylinders according to the number of
children, increase in allowance from Rs 50 to Rs 2,000, increase in allowance to attend monthly meeting from Rs 30 to Rs 200, filling up vacant positions, delivery of food to residences of pregnant women and newly delivered mothers, Rs 3 lac compensation for workers and Rs 2 lac for assistants if they are sick and retirement after 15 years of service.

The procession started from the premises of taluk panchayat office, progressed via Mescom office and Salmar to reach back in front of taluk office. Some of the workers had brought their young children in the rain for the protests.