Anganwadi workers protesting for 40 days beaten up by male cops in Ranchi

The Anganwadi workers, protesting for the past 40 days, demanded that they should be recognised as government employees and asked for better pay till then
Male cops beat up women protesters at Ranchi (Pic: Screengrab)
Male cops beat up women protesters at Ranchi (Pic: Screengrab)

Samyukta Morcha of the Anganwadi workers' unions on strike for 40 days near the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, Jharkhand were beaten up by male police officers on September 24. A short video that went viral showed male police officers hitting women at the protest on Tuesday — not a single female police officer could be seen. They were agitating for the implementation of an increase in remuneration and effective implementation of Integrated Child Development Services among other demands. The All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) condemned the police atrocities on the protesting Anganwadi workers and helpers and the Jharkhand State Anganwadi Sevika Sahayika Sangh (CITU) will hold an Assembly March on September 25.

AIFAWH General Secretary, AR Sindhu, in a statement said, "AIFAWH strongly condemns the lathi-charge by male police on the Anganwadi workers and helpers in Ranchi. It is shameful that there was not a single lady police even though the information about the protest was given to the police much in advance. AIFAWH demands immediate action against those policemen responsible for such illegal action." The video shows one of the protestors getting riled up after being hit by the policemen and an officer retaliates by hitting her harder. The video was criticised by netizens across social media.

The Anganwadi workers, protesting for the past 40 days, demanded that they should be recognised as government employees and until that happens the sevikas should be paid Rs 18,000 and sahayakas Rs 9,000 as remuneration along with social security benefits for all. Mini Anganwadi sevikas should not be discriminated against and the system of an upper age limit while granting promotions to the Anganwadi workers should be abolished. Suggesting the model Bihar followed the protesters demanded that the retirement age of the workers be increased to 65 years from the currently sanctioned 60 years. On retiring the sevikas should be given Rs 5 lakh and sahayakas Rs 3 lakh, demanded the protesters.

AIFAWH also demanded that the BJP Government in Jharkhand immediately settle the ongoing strike by the Samyukta Morcha of Anganwadi unions on demands of implementation of promised increase in remuneration and effective implementation of ICDS facilities.

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