Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120560790800.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad

Anganwadi workers stage protest

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Singam Venkataramana

Tough measures: Police disbursing the anganwadi employees forcibly entering the collectorate by spraying water in Nalgonda on Thursday.

NIZAMABAD: Anganwadi workers and helpers under the banner of their association affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)here on Thursday picketed the Collectorate demanding amendment to GO Ms. No. 42 which they said would transfer all powers to gram panchayats on the angawadis.

They also demanded regular payment of salaries to the workers and helpers, prevention of political harassment, promotions to helpers as supervisors and recruitment for all vacant posts in anganwadis. Later, they burnt the copies of the GO at NTR Chowrasta. CITU district president Ramesh Babu and secretary Vijayalakshmi, Anganwadi Association president Tulasi and secretary Ch. Bharati spoke.

Memorandum given

Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Hundreds of anganwadi workers held a dharna before the Collectorate for about four hours. Many of them participated in the agitation along with children. Later they submitted a memorandum to the district officials.

Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds: The State committee of CITU condemned the police lathi-charge on protesting ‘anganwadi’ workers at Nalgonda district collectorate.

In a statement, R. Sudhabhaskar, general secretary of the State CITU, alleged that the police declared war on the poor anganwadi women workers using a water cannon first and then resorting to lathi-charge.

Six workers were injured. The district secretary, Sulochana fainted after she was kicked by the policemen. Another worker’s hand got fractured.

He said the workers would stage demonstrations at their project offices on Friday to protest the police lathi-charge.