Hundreds of Anganwadi workers detained, ‘Chalo Vijayawada’ protest foiled

VIJAYAWADA: Tension prevailed in Vijayawada after a large number of women, including Anganwadi workers, activists of the Left parties and their affiliated trade unions, were taken into preventive detention during their 'Chalo Vijayawada' protest on Monday. Spearheaded by the Left parties and their trade unions, the agitation call was given by the Anganwadi workers to press for the resolution and implementation of long-pending promises made by the State Government. Tense moments were witnessed at Dharna Chowk as the police detained the Anganwadi workers in large numbers and shifted them to the various police stations and function halls.

As many as 1,500 Anganwadi workers along with CITU leaders Ch. Narsinga Rao, Subbaravamma and CPM State Secretary group members Ch. Babu Rao and others were arrested. Several other leaders of trade unions were also kept under house arrest. However, the Anganwadi workers and CITU leaders from different districts, who were shifted to Ibrahimpatnam police station, continued their protest in the police station against the police action.

Sitting on an impromptu hunger strike at the Ibrahimpatnam Police Station against the illegal arrests, the Anganwadi workers slammed the Andhra Pradesh government headed by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy for what they alleged as the ‘ill-treatment of the poor workers’. The Anganwadi activists are demanding abolition of the face recognition app besides regularisation of their services with an increase in salary upto Rs 26,000 besides other perks.