Anganwadi teachers take to streets in Telangana, arrested; plan Chalo Secretariat on Sept 25

Anganwadi teachers in Telangana staged protests against the State’s move to set up pre-primary schools, fearing job loss and closure of centres. Arrested during demonstrations, they announced a Chalo Secretariat protest on September 25 to press their demands

Hyderabad: Anganwadi teachers became the latest section in Telangana to hit the streets against the Congress government, ending up being arrested during a protest at Vikarabad on Monday.

They are opposing the government’s move to establish pre-primary schools in government institutions, which they fear will deprive them of their livelihood. To intensify the stir, they have called for a Chalo Secretariat protest on September 25.

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The government launched 1,000 pre-primary schools this academic year, resulting in a decline in enrolment at Anganwadi centres. Teachers and helpers expressed concerns that the centres would eventually be shut, leaving them jobless. They also pointed out that many daily wage labourers depend on Anganwadi centres to leave their children while they work, and the closure of the centres would force parents to take children along to worksites.

The Anganwadi teachers alleged that the government was implementing the Centre’s new education policy without resistance, effectively phasing out the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. They demanded that English-medium pre-primary education be entrusted to them under ICDS, but said the government had ignored this demand.

“In Karnataka, the Congress government handed over pre-primary school operations to Anganwadi teachers. In Andhra Pradesh too, it has been offered to us. Why cannot the Revanth Reddy government follow the same in Telangana?” asked Jayalakshmi, CITU State secretary of Telangana Anganwadi Teachers and Helpers Union.

She also recalled that the Congress had sought their support during elections, promising to raise their salaries to Rs 18,000 per month. “After coming to power, leave aside increasing the salary, the Congress government is now leaving us jobless,” she charged.

As part of their protest, Anganwadi teachers staged demonstrations outside the residences of several cabinet Ministers. Tension prevailed at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s residence in Kodangal after protesters demanded that the government withdraw its plan and ensure job security. Police arrested them at Vikarabad and shifted them to Yalal police station.

“Male police officers were deployed to thwart our attempts. They behaved rudely, thrashed us and abused us in filthy language. Is this Praja Palana? How can male police touch women?” Jayalakshmi asked.

Similar protests were held at Animal Husbandry Minister V Srihari’s residence at Makthal in Narayanpet district. Heavy police deployment also thwarted attempts by Anganwadi teachers to lay siege to Minister Dr G Vivek’s residence in Mancherial.