Jharkhand: Baton Charge Against Anganwadi Workers Protesting Outside CM’s Residence

Police have resorted to baton charge against Anganwadi workers who were protesting in Jharkhand’s Ranchi. These workers had planned to surround the Chief Minister’s residence as part of their protest. They have been staging protests to highlight their demands for the last 40 days. Several Anganwadi workers have sustained serious injuries in the police action.

These workers, who have been protesting since August 16, have demanded that: 

-- Anganwadi workers should be declared as government servants. They should be paid Rs 18,000 per month, while assistants should be paid Rs 9,000 per month

-- Mini Anganwadi workers should be treated at par with Anganwadi Workers

-- Anganwadi workers should be given Social Security Benefits

-- The retirement age of Anganwadi workers should be raised to 65 years from the current 60 years

-- At the time of retirement, workers should be paid Rs 5 lakh and assistants should be given Rs 3 lakh

When the Anganwadi workers tried to proceed from Raj Bhavan towards the CM’s residence with these demands, the policemen present there tried to stop them. But since the workers did not stop, police resorted to baton charge. There were no women police officers present at the spot at the time of the incident.