Anganwadi workers protest with long-standing demands

Anganwadi workers and helpers today staged a protest at Chinsurah Ghorir More under the banner of the West Bengal Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Union, pressing for their long-standing demands.

A spokesperson for the union said: “We are engaged in vital work in society, taking care of the nutritional needs of mothers, infants and growing children. We also provide basic healthcare services to mothers and children, even in remote rural areas. Yet, to this day, we remain deprived of the basic requirements needed to deliver these services more effectively.”

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She pointed out that most Anganwadi centres are in a deplorable state, lacking proper infrastructure such as seating arrangements, kitchens, washrooms and drinking water facilities. Food supplies for mothers and children are often insufficient.

The spokesperson further said: “To keep data updated we require smartphones that support the Anganwadi app. However, we have not been provided with smartphones or SIM cards. An new updated software, e-KYS, has been introduced, which requires capturing the facial images of both mother and child for enrolment. Since we do not have smartphones, we are unable to register new beneficiaries. Until smartphones are provided, we urge that mothers’ identity cards and children’s polio cards be accepted as valid identification.”

The union also demanded a hike in their honorarium and that Anganwadi workers be given the status of government employees, along with the benefits of pension, provident fund, gratuity and other facilities. They further demanded the resumption of food supplies that were earlier provided.

The workers submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate, drawing attention to their long-pending demands and highlighting their plight.