Bhubaneswar: A large number of anganwadi workers Thursday converged on the city streets to express their gratitude after their long-pending demand for hike in their remunerations was met.
Anganwadi workers from different districts of the state flocked the city and took a procession to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence to thank him for increasing their monthly salaries. They also felicitated him.
This comes days after the state government hiked the salaries from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,500. The decision will benefit approximately 72,500 anganwadi workers who are engaged in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and entrusted with the task of assisting the state government in providing healthcare measures, education and other needs to children and women at grassroots levels.
According to the announcement made by the CM, besides the raise, the workers are also now entitled to 15 days summer vacation. The number of anganwadi workers is all set to increase in the near future as the state government has decided to fill up the vacant posts. The whole development comes after a long agitation by the workers who had been demanding hike in their salaries and other incentives for the efforts they put in.
PNN