Thousands of Anganwadi workers and helpers, organized under the All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association, staged a significant demonstration near the Assembly today to press for better compensation and working conditions.
The protesters, who gathered from districts across the state, are demanding a substantial increase in monthly salaries, proposing a minimum of Rs 18,000 for workers and Rs 9,000 for helpers. Key demands also include Rs 10 lakh in retirement assistance, pension, and gratuity, citing their extensive involvement in various government schemes beyond core nutrition duties.
Additionally, they called for the provision of 5G mobile phones to replace outdated 2G devices, which they claim hinder effective nutrition tracking. The demonstration led to heavy police deployment around the Assembly as the main road filled with protesters and saffron flags.