Groundxero | 17th January, 2024

Since December 12, 2023, more than one lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers in Andhra Pradesh have been on strike, demanding that the state government increase their salaries, regularize their jobs, and introduce retirement and pension benefits, and clear pending wage bills, among other demands.

Overworked and underpaid, thousands of Anganwadi workers and helpers in Andhra Pradesh have shown defiance towards the state government’s attempts to suppress their agitation. Despite arrests of union leaders and workers, police barricades, barbed wire fences, government ultimatums, and the invocation of the draconian Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1971, the relentless protests by Anganwadi workers persist.

The strike of the all-woman Anganwadi workforce has entered its 37th day today. After months of presenting their justified demands to the state government through memoranda, demonstrations, and dharnas, the workers have now resorted to an indefinite hunger strike starting today (Wednesday).

The unions leading the protest convened a media conference at Balotsav Bhavan on Tuesday, where union representatives accused the state government of maintaining a stubborn stance against salary hikes, despite six rounds of talks. The unions declared their collective decision to intensify the struggle and announced that it would continue further as an indefinite hunger strike, scheduled to commence at 11 am on January 17.

The ongoing struggle is under the banner of a Joint Action Committee formed by IFTU, CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), and AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress). The ‘Andhra Pradesh Progressive Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union,’ led by IFTU (Indian Federation of Trade Unions), actively participates in this protest. The unions condemned the anti-worker stand of the Jagan government, hailed the valiant struggle of the Anganwadi workers, and demanded the immediate revocation of the undemocratic ESMA.

The main demands of the Anganwadi workers include:

• Increase salary from the current Rs 11,500 per month to Rs 26,000. The salary for assistant workers or helpers should also be increased proportionally from the current Rs 6,500 per month.

• Instead of an ‘honorarium’, give Anganwadi workers regular government employee status and corresponding salary.

• Implementation of PF and Gratuity, along with medical benefits, leaves, and pension.

• Retirement age limit to be set at 62 years.

• Withdrawal of compulsory use of the ‘Facial Recognition App for Identification,’ which is essentially a surveillance tool.

The Jagan government has made these over lakh women workers stay on the road for so many days, going through pretenses of talks but finally clamped ESMA on January 6, 2024, and is now threatening the women with dismissals, suspensions, police actions, and fresh recruitments. The government had earlier attempted to create confusion by accepting a few minor demands but rejected the primary demands of the striking workers for a hike in salary and payment of gratuity.

CITU leader and General Secretary of AP Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, K Subbaravamma, questioned the government’s actions, citing the skyrocketing prices as a reason for urging salary increments. A one crore signature campaign in support of the struggle is underway, and the signatures will be submitted to the CM soon, he said. IFTU leader P Padma criticized the State government for invoking the Emergency Services Act (ESMA) and issuing show-cause notices to workers, deeming it illegal. She asserted the unity of over 1 lakh workers and their determination to continue the agitation until their demands are met.

Contributions of Anganwadi workers

The 1.3 million Anganwadi workers and 1.2 million helpers carry out a variety of tasks that significantly contribute to the Integrated Child Development Services scheme (ICDS), launched in 1975 to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children up to the age of 6 years, and pregnant and lactating women.

Across India, over 70 per cent of children are enrolled in pre-school centers called Anganwadis. Anganwadi workers cook and serve food to children between three to six years of age. They conduct monthly weight checks for children, maintain health cards for children under 6, and refer cases for medical attention if needed. Every year, the workers conduct surveys of families in the area with a focus on mothers and children. They assist ASHA workers with pulse polio immunization drives and the implementation of health programs. Additionally, they conduct home visits to educate parents and provide birth information to the local authorities. Their role is significant in reducing the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in both urban and rural areas.

The contribution of Anganwadi workers during the coronavirus pandemic, even risking their lives, is recognized by all. Yet, they are not recognized as formal workers and are paid only honorariums by labeling them as volunteers. It is inhumane for governments to refuse to increase the salaries of these workers who have worked for decades at wages far below the government-declared minimum wage.

In April 2022, even the Supreme Court said that it was time the Union and state governments ensured better service conditions for Anganwadi workers and helpers, commensurate with the duties they discharge. The Court ordered that Anganwadi workers are entitled to gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

Jagan Reddy’s betrayal

Jagan Reddy gave the assurance of increasing wages and giving other benefits to Anganwadi workers and helpers during the 2018 election campaign. Jagan promised Anganwadi workers Rs 1000 more than what their counterparts are paid in Telangana. In the neighboring state of Telangana, Anganwadi workers receive Rs 13,650, and helpers get Rs 8000 per month. So, the Anganwadi workers and helpers in AP should be paid Rs 14,650 and Rs 9000 per month, respectively. But since July 2019, they are working on paltry payments of Rs 11,500 and Rs 6500 per month, along with ever-increasing duties.

Although negotiations were held with the striking unions, the government flatly refused any wage increase or implementation of gratuity as per the Supreme Court order. The irony lies in the fact that the Andhra Pradesh government, while unwilling to adhere to the Supreme Court order and recognize Anganwadi workers and helpers as employees/workers, has, on January 6, 2024, issued a Government Order (G.O. No. 2) bringing the services of the Anganwadi workers and helpers under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), an act typically applicable to government employees. Furthermore, the invoking of ESMA to break the strike brings out clearly that the work of Anganwadis is an “essential service.” And, this is what the workers have been saying; that they are actually doing the work of regular government employees and are hence entitled to formal wages, statutory rights, and all benefits of government employees. But the very government, which seeks to crush them with ESMA, calls their work ‘voluntary’ and maintains they are only entitled to receive ‘honorariums’!

The double speak of Jagan Reddy’s government stands exposed. Anganwadi workers have waited for four years for the promise to be fulfilled and are now demanding that it has to be fulfilled before the next general elections scheduled to be held in a few months. They are also pressing for the implementation of the Supreme Court order issued in April 2022.

Anganwadi workers’ struggle not limited to Andhra Pradesh alone

Andhra Pradesh is not the only state where Anganwadi workers have held protests in recent times and faced state repression. In Maharashtra, nearly two lakh Anganwadi workers have been on strike since December 4 last year. The Maharashtra BJP coalition government has refused to engage in dialogue with the unions, resorting instead to severe repression and retrenchment. Despite these challenges, Anganwadi workers and helpers in Maharashtra are courageously resisting repression and persisting with the strike.

In Bihar, Anganwadi workers went on a 71-day strike in November-December 2023. The workers’ demands included recognition as formal government employees and an increase in wages. The Bihar government terminated 18,220 Anganwadi workers. However, due to the pressure exerted by the workers’ struggles, the Bihar government was compelled to reinstate all of them and recently increase their remuneration.

The Anganwadi workers unions in Andhra Pradesh have emphasized the determination of the workers to address the state government’s obstinacy and declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives for the cause. Besides an indefinite hunger strike, protests are being held at administrative buildings and MLA offices in every district by workers demanding their rights.

The unions have demanded the withdrawal of ESMA by the Andhra Pradesh government and calls upon all Anganwadi workers and helpers to unite in the fight against both the Andhra Pradesh government and the Modi government, which is dismantling the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). IFTU National Committee has has hailed the brave struggle of the Anganwadis of Andhra Pradesh, and declared Solidarity Week from 17th to 23rd January 2024 with the striking Anganwadis of Andhra Pradesh. It said that the right to strike of the workers will be upheld by the working class and both repressive ESMA and Modi Govt’s Labour Codes will be fought back. It has appealed to workers and democratic-minded people all over the country to participate in solidarity actions with striking Anganwadi workers and helpers who during the pandemic provided invaluable services at the risk of their lives.