Andhra Pradesh govt. orders striking Anganwadi workers to resume duties immediately or face action

Anganwadi workers urged to rejoin duties by Jan 8 or face action; 1 lakh workers on strike for 27 days demanding salary hike, retirement benefits.

The State government has set a deadline for agitating Anganwadi workers and helpers and appealed to them to rejoin their duties on January 8, failing which action would be taken against them.

It has been almost one month since the Anganwadi workers embarked on their State-wide agitation demanding a hike in salary, regularisation of services and retirement benefits. With two rounds of talks failing to break the deadlock, the State government on Saturday issued a Government Order (G.O. No. 2) bringing the services of the Anganwadi workers and helpers under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

Collectors of various districts appealed to the Anganwadi women to rejoin their duties immediately.

Krishna Joint Collector Geetanjali Sharma, in a statement, asked the Anganwadi workers, helpers and mini-workers to report for work on January 8 (Monday).

Project Director of Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW), Eluru district, K.V.L. Padmavathi, said the services of Anganwadi workers and helpers were brought under the Essential Services and Maintenance Act (ESMA), 1971, from January 6. “I appeal to the agitating workers to join duties immediately. Those who do not report for duty are liable to face action,” Ms. Padmavathi said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the State-wide agitation launched by Anganwadi workers and helpers entered the 27th day on Sunday. They observed relay fasts in various districts.

About 1 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers launched the strike on December 12, demanding that the State government increase their salaries, and institute retirement and pension benefits and clear pending bills, among other demands.