Karnataka Anganwadi Workers on Indefinite Strike

Anganwadi Workers’ in Karnataka called for an indefinite strike yesterday. Thousands of Anganwadi workers took to the streets for demanding higher wages. The protesters did not budge from the scene of protest and spent the night camping at the protest ground.

The protesters said that they had been recruited to work for the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) scheme, they were expected to be part of various other government schemes. Their work load had increased but their pay was stagnant. It is important to note that over 20 lakh Anganwadi workers help to implement key schemes of the Centre and the State.

They had demanded the minimum wages of Anganwadi workers to be increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000. The wages of their helpers were to increase from Rs 3,000 to Rs 7,500. S Varalakshmi, president, Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Association said “We will not budge till this is assured. To pay us the wages, there must be an allocation of Rs 612 crore. This year, only 110 Crore has been allocated. When they can increase the work hours from 4.5 to 6.5, why not hike our wages?”

JD(S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy and Leader of Opposition, Jagadish Shettar met the protesters yesterday. Later, in the State Assembly, they both said that the demands of the Anganwadi workers should be taken seriously. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded saying that the Centre had reduced allocations for the ICDS in 2016. He said that it was this reduction in the allocations which is hindering their increasing the honorarium.

The protesters met the CM in an informal meeting. They called the meeting futile. They said that the CM verbally assured them to look into their demands. Similar assurances were given during their demands for higher wages in 2015.

“Several influential people meddle in our work at the taluk level. Each of them has different demands from us. There is none to address our problems,” said another worker from Hubballi.

One of the protesters, Rathna Gowda, said, “I am finding it very difficult to manage the family with the meagre salary. We are expected to participate in all the schemes that state’s health department rolls out as well, but do not get any additional incentives for the same.”