Bhubaneswar: After agitating for about a month and a half over their eight-point charter of demands, Anganwadi karmis and sahayikas today announced to temporarily put on hold their agitation following their talks with the Odisha government.
Anganwadi karmis and sahayikas have suspended their agitation till second week of February a delegation of theirs had a discussion with Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra.
“Giving respect to the Chief Secretary’s we are suspending our agitation till second week of February. If things are not fruitful we will again resort to agitation. The Director has invited us for discussion tomorrow over some smaller demands we will meet at 11.30 AM,” informed Sumitra Mohapatra, president, All Odisha Anganwadi Karmi Sangh.
Earlier in the day, thousands of Anganwadi workers marched in a rally from Lower PMG to Naveen Niwas. However, they were stopped by the police near Raj Mahal Square and a delegation was allowed to meet the Chief Secretary to discuss their demands.
The Anganwadi workers are demanding that they must get the tag of government employees and monthly remuneration of Rs 18,000 for Anganwadi workers and Rs 9,000 for their assistants.
Anganwadi workers and assistants have been on a dharna for around one and a half month at the Lower PMG Square here and at the district and block headquarters over their eight-point charter of demands.
As a result of which infants in the State have been deprived of nutritious food and and pre-school education.
