BRS Condemns Police Action Against Anganwadi Staff

BRS MLA and former minister T Harish Rao today criticised the police action against Anganwadi staff who participated in a "Chalo Secretariat" demonstration demanding the fulfilment of promises made by the Congress government.

He called for their immediate release, and urged the government to honour the commitments made in the Congress election manifesto regarding women employees.

Rao expressed disappointment that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who had vowed to empower women financially, was ordering the arrest of Anganwadi teachers across the State. "Is this the level of respect afforded to women in the so-called Indiramma Rajyam?" he asked, accusing the Chief Minister of depriving women employees of the joy of celebrating the Bathukamma festival.

He claimed that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had elevated the status of Anganwadi staff from workers to teachers, and had significantly increased their salaries, which were the highest in the country - Rs 13,650 for teachers and Rs 7,800 for mini-teachers and helpers, compared to Rs 4,200 and Rs 2,200 in 2014.

Rao said that the Congress had promised to raise the Anganwadi teachers' salaries to Rs 18,000, and include EPF benefits and job security, as part of its Abhayahastam Declaration, and yet nothing had been done even after 22 months of it being in office.