Knock! Knock! Anganwadi workers cry for attention

Rachana Ramesh | NT

Bengaluru: As the nation celebrates the formation of the Republic tomorrow, thousands of Anganwadi workers from across Karnataka, who play a vital role in nurturing and feeding toddlers at thousands of pre-school centres, are out in the open at Freedom Park in the city where they are continuing their indefinite protest, sleeping through the cold night for better wages, pension and gratuity. The protest has been organised under the aegis of Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Union (KSAWU), which is associated with Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

The anganwadi workers want to be considered teachers and government employees and be paid accordingly. Currently, they are considered as volunteers and get paid a pittance. For instance, a group of 600 Anganwadi workers have travelled from Nagamangala taluk in Mandya to be a part of the protest.

They informed News Trail that Nagamangala has over 337 such workers and they have decided to join hands and showcase their solidarity. Protesting at Freedom Park is no easy task; to attend nature’s call, the women have to walk over a kilometre to reach the nearest public toilet.

“If this toilet does not have water, we have to walk three more kilometres to reach the next nearest toilet. If either of them prove to be unworthy to use, we walk till the Majestic bus station to access washrooms,” said Mahalakshmi, a newly wedded bride, who has left home to be a part of the protest. “The washrooms are not very clean making us prone to urinary infections,” she added.

Bhagyamma, a 58-year-old, is awaiting retirement and is worried about not receiving gratuity. “Dew drops fall on us early in the morning while we sleep in the open every night. It is cold during the winter even inside a house, so you can imagine sleeping on the ground,” she said. And to add to their woes, local hawkers have taken advantage of their plight and have doubled their prices.

Bhag yamma’s daughter who lives in the city at Sunkadakatte, cooks food for them each day and sends it over. “If it wasn't for my daughter, we would have to spend Rs 1000- 2000 on meals everyday. This is not something we can afford with our meagre income,” she said. Drinking water is also not readily available anywhere at the protest site.

“Nobody in the relevant government departments has taken note of our struggle and provided some immediate relief or fulfilled any one of our demands, despite the majority of women being close to retirement and facing deteriorating health,” she said. As per a Supreme Court order, retired Anganwadi workers and helpers should be provided gratuity and pension.

The demonstrators reasoned that this sets a precedent for Anganwadi workers to be recognised as regular employees. S Varalakshmi, president of Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers' Association, claimed that over 30,000 women have gathered in solidarity for better wages. 

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