Anganwadi workers protest, demanding timely increment – The Hindu

 More than 1,000 women under the banner Tamil Nadu Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association staged a road blockade here on Tuesday, demanding timely salary increment.  

P. Rameswari, district treasurer of the association, said their demand for an enhanced pay was not just an election-focused demand but a long-standing grievance that successive governments had failed to address. 

“Even those workers with more than 20 to 30 years of experience are paid no more than ₹21,000. While workers in other sectors are eligible for pay that reflects their years of experience, why is it that we are paid even less than a fresher in other industries?” she asked. 

While they carry out the same amount of work by putting in equal labour, they are denied the commensurate wages and benefits that their counterparts in other departments receive, she added.  

Ms. Rameswari said the only relief to the anganwadi workers to receive better pay was to declare them as government employees.

“Only when we are made the government staff can our demand for regular timescale pay and service benefits be legally and systematically fulfilled,” she noted.  

As an immediate measure of relief, she urged that retiring workers be made eligible for a monthly pension of ₹9,000 to ensure their financial security after years of service. 

Close to 1,346 protesters were detained by the police and were later released.