BENGALURU: As protests for pay hike of Anganwadi workers in the State entered day four, the Women and Child Development Department is taking stock of the number of Anganwadi centres shut across the State. They are also contemplating ways to ensure that nutrition schemes delivered through Anganwadis reach the children.
S Varalakshmi, State president, Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Association said that there were more than 20,000 workers at the protest. "Number of protesters have only increased as the days pass, and about 90 per cent of Anganwadis in the State are shut. Even though all 1.24 lakh workers are not at the protest venue, Anganwadis remain shut," she said.
Depriving children of food was not their intention, and the workers have distributed the 'take home ration' which is provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers wherever possible before coming to Bengaluru, Varalakshmi said.
Meanwhile, deputy directors of Women and Child Development across the State have been directed to ensure that children receive food at Anganwadis. "One possible way is to direct the ration from the Anganwadi to the nearest Primary School so that food can be cooked along with the mid-day meal programme. Each Anganwadi center has 20-25 children, so they should be able to handle the load," an Integrated Child Development Scheme official said.
Bengaluru city police have deployed police at entry points in the city to prevent more women from entering the protest. Police sources said, “Anganwadi workers have been arriving in private vehicles and we have successfully prevented them from entering the city. A platoon of City Armed Reserve Force along with other personnel have been assigned the job."
A senior police official said, “There are already more than 10,000 workers protesting in the central business district. The deployed force there will not be able to control the crowd if the number increases. Also, we do not have sufficient women police personnel to control the crowd. To maintain law and order we have taken this step.”