Thousands of anganwadi workers and helpers staged a 36-hour dharna here on July 10 (Monday), demanding that the Andhra Pradesh government must solve their long-pending demands. They also urged the government to increase the budget for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and strengthen the pre-schools in the State.
Following a call given by Andhra Pradesh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association, scores of workers abstained from duties to participate in the dharna. Their major demands included the provision of gratuity, hike in salaries, promotions for helpers, medical leave, clearance of bills, supply of quality groceries. They also demanded that all the welfare schemes for the poor be extended to the anganwadi staff.
The protestors alleged that government was neglecting the anganwadi centres (pre-schools) and that the bills were not being cleared regularly.
