Photos: Anganwadi workers’ fair pay protest enters 40th day in New Delhi

A protest by the Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (DSAWHU) enters its 40th day over demands of a pay hike, and the implementation of a July 2015 agreement between the workers and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. ...read more

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Updated on Aug 07, 2017 11:55 AM IST

Anganwadi workers in the National capital have now been protesting for 40 days over demands led by a pay hike for 22,000 workers and helpers associated with the Delhi Government run day-care centres, to better reflect the amount of work undertaken and an improvement in sustaining livelihoods. (PTI)

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Worker of Anganwadi and members of Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (DSAWHU) protest during a Maha Raily against the Delhi Government and chief minister Arvind Kejirwal, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

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A demand charter released by the union has asked for a pay hike for workers from the current monthly ₹5,000 to ₹16,182, and from ₹2,500 to ₹14,698 for helpers, in accordance with the minimum wages set by the government. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT Photo)

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The workers’ unions cite the non-implementation of a July 2015 agreement signed by Kejriwal accepting their demands, including a pay hike for workers and helpers, timely payments and issuing identity cards for associated workers, among other demands. However, two year’s on, the unions still await the fulfilment of these agreements. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

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Earlier in the protest period the workers had been stationed at the Delhi chief minister’s Flag Staff Road residence. Receiving no response by the state government, the workers first began a relay hunger strike from July 20th to 22nd and later extended it to an indefinite strike from July 23rd to 29th. It was on the 7th day of the indefinite hunger strike that the Kejriwal government responded to the demands of the protesters. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT Photo)

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CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on July 21 that the Cabinet had raised the honorarium to Anganwadi workers from ₹5000 to ₹9678, and that of helpers from ₹2500 to ₹4839. He also added that the hike would include a mobile and internet purse of ₹500 and ₹250 respectively. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT Photo)

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Protesting workers’ groups however remain dubious of the efficacy of this declaration by tweet, in light of non-compliance to existing legally-binding agreements from 2015. Media reports also cite claims by the workers that regardless of proclamations towards fresh pay hikes they have yet to receive pay according to their exiting slabs for over five months. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

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Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union held a massive march from Rajghat to Delhi Secretariat but were intercepted by the Delhi Police midway in New Delhi, India, on August 04, 2017. The Anganwadi workers have been protesting with red bands over their heads, and identity cards around their necks refuting claims that the protesting groups aren’t entirely comprised of Anganwadi workers. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT Photo)

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While deputy chief minster Manish Sisodia has acknowledged the low honorariums paid to Anganwadi workers after an inspection of centres and meetings with union members, spokespersons of the DSAWHU claim that their protests will continue unless they receive an official gazette or notification and not assurances via tweets or press releases. (PTI)