Sharmila slams crackdown on Anganwadi workers

APCC president Y. S. Sharmila on Wednesday intensified her attack on the TDP-led coalition government, alleging that it had resorted to “brutal and undemocratic action” against Anganwadi workers raising legitimate demands across the state.

In a post on X, the APCC president condemned the reported midnight arrests of protesting workers and questioned the government’s approach towards women employees seeking their rights.

She asked whether holding a peaceful protest had become a punishable offence and said the manner in which women were taken into custody reflected poorly on the administration.

“Will they put shackles on those who ask for their rights?” she asked, terming the arrests in the dead of night inhuman and unacceptable in a democracy. She alleged that the Telugu Desam Party had made several promises to Anganwadi workers ahead of the Assembly elections, but when the workers sought their implementation, the response was police action instead of dialogue.

Sharmila maintained that the demands raised by the Anganwadi workers were reasonable and long pending. She called for fixing a minimum monthly salary of ₹26,000, issuing clear guidelines for the implementation of gratuity, and upgrading 1,810 mini Anganwadi centres into full-fledged main centres.

She also sought sanction of paid medical leave, filling up of vacant posts, and addressing other service-related issues that have remained unresolved for years.

The Congress leader reminded Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of the assurances he had given to Anganwadi workers during their 42-day strike in December 2023, when he was in the Opposition. She urged him to honour those commitments now that he is in power.

Reaffirming her party’s stand, Sharmila said the Congress would extend full support to the Anganwadi workers’ movement and stand by them in their fight for dignity, fair wages, and job security.