Deep frustration erupted in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand on Wednesday, where Anganwadi workers and helpers converged on the district collectorate under Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh’s leadership. Shouting slogans, they presented a memorandum to the Collector for the Chief Minister, demanding urgent reforms.
Overloaded with inter-departmental duties – think child welfare, surveys, and more – these women get Rs 4,500 monthly, no perks, and no pension post-retirement. ‘It’s outright exploitation,’ they chorused, vowing an ‘ultimate battle’ with center lockouts on the horizon.
Kavita Bairagi laid it bare: ‘Make us permanent employees. No time limits on work, extra burdens, and starvation wages – how do we survive?’ Manju Kanwar targeted budget priorities: ‘Government ignores us despite funds. Hike to Rs 18,000, salaried jobs, pensions – meet these or face consequences.’
This uprising reflects chronic underappreciation of Anganwadi centers, pivotal to India’s child development ecosystem. Past government promises have evaporated, pushing workers to extremes.
With services at risk for countless families, the clock ticks. A swift policy shift could avert crisis, but silence risks broader unrest. These mothers and caregivers deserve more than rhetoric – they demand justice now.