Protesting anganwadi workers, assistants arrested in central region

Several anganwadi workers and assistants were arrested in Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Ariyalur districts on Tuesday after they resorted to a road blockade urging the State government to declare them as government employees, among other demands.

The protesters were members of the Tamil Nadu Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association affiliated to CITU.

In Tiruchi city, about 1,000 anganwadi workers and assistants assembled near the District Collectorate where they staged a demonstration in support of their charter of demands. Grant of ₹9,000 as family pension for anganwadi workers and assistants, disbursement of ₹10 lakh as gratuity for anganwadi workers at the time of their retirement and 5 lakh as gratuity for assistants and filling up of vacant posts keeping in view the safety of children were among their other demands.

Police sources said the anganwadi workers and assistants staged a demonstration near the Collectorate in Tiruchi for about an hour and later resorted to a road roko for a few minutes when they were all arrested. They were later released.

In Pudukottai town, about 1,200 anganwadi workers and assistants were arrested after they staged a protest and resorted to a road roko. The protesters came in a procession from Anna statue to old bus stand where they staged a road roko leading to their arrest. They were released later.

In Ariyalur town, over 500 anganwadi workers and assistants were arrested when they staged a picketing agitation near Anna statue. They were subsequently released. In Thanjavur town, around 385 anganwadi workers and assistants were arrested near the Collectorate and released later.