BENGALURU: For over 30 years now, SD Parvathamma has been working as an anganwadi worker at Madhugiri taluk of Tumakuru district. But the 54-year-old is a bitter woman today as the meagre monthly pay of Rs 6,000 hardly makes ends meet.
“My husband doesn’t work, and I have high sugar and BP. My rent is Rs 2,000. One of my children is in final year BA and the other in second year. How do I provide for all of us?” she asks, squatting at Freedom Park, where about 10,000 of them have gathered demanding higher pay and job security.
She makes another pointed query: “Without us how would the Stree Shakthi groups be formed and Bhagyalakshmi scheme be implemented?”
An anganwadi worker is paid Rs 200 and her helper Rs 83, for eight hours of work daily. There are no regular pay hikes, no PF and no medical insurance.
“They get reimbursements only for treatment of cancer, kidney ailments, heart conditions and hysterectomies,” says Sunanda HS, general secretary of the Karnataka Rajya Anganwadi Noukarara Sangha. “What is the point if they pay only for life threatening conditions. We want to live, not die,” she adds.
It’s this determination that has brought these women from across Karnataka, as they put up with a lone, stinking and clogged toilet at Freedom Park, no water or blankets and only each other and mosquitoes for company.
They have decided to stay put till the government takes up their case.
Jyothi A of the National Federation of Indian Women says the problem is anganwadi workers and helpers are not treated as government staff and have no legal status. They don’t even undergo any basic training to run the creches.
According to Karnataka Rajya Anganwadi Noukarara Sangha, there are 1.24 lakh anganwadi workers in the state. Their job entails providing nutrition to children under six years, pregnant and lactating mothers, and girls. Pre-school education of children between three and six years is also their responsibility.
“We have to maintain registers, take care of the children from making them sleep, attend nature’s calls, cooking and feeding them. We have no time to tend to our own children,” says Anusuya (32)from Tiptur, Tumakuru. She has been an anganwadi worker for 12 years.
Sabeena (31) from Malavalli, Mandya district, is separated from her husband. She started working when she was 21-year-old. “My parents have seven children. They cannot support me. My daughter is in Class 7. My rent is Rs 2,000. How do I manage with Rs 6,000?” she asks.