BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday announced an increase in wages for anganwadi workers following a much demanded meeting with them. The CM has agreed to a pay hike of Rs 500 for Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Siddaramaiah had agreed to the meeting to resolve the problems of Anganwadi workers, who had staged a massive protest at Freedom Park, here in March.
The workers, who had arrived in thousands, came with their children and spent nights at the park gaining widespread attention. The strike ended only after the chief minister’s office assured them of a meeting after voting for the bypolls ended on April 9.
The meeting on Monday was fruitful and it was agreed that an anganwadi workers would get Rs 8,000 and helpers to Rs 4,000, an increase of Rs 500 per month. In addition, anganwadi workers at mini anganwadis will now be eligible for a salary of Rs 4,750, an increase of Rs 500.
Earlier, anganwadi workers were paid Rs 6,000 and for helpers was Rs 3,000. In the recent budget, CM Siddaramaiah had announced an increase of Rs 1,000 for workers and Rs 500 for helpers.
According to vice president of the anganwadi association, Sunanda, the government has also agreed to form a high powered committee to look into the formation service rules for anganwadi workers.
Over 8,000 anganwadi workers and helpers had staged protests demanding a pay hike for four days at Freedom Park. The protests had spread all over Karnataka with many anganwadi’s remaining shut while the protests continued.