Harish Rao demands release of pending Anganwadi salaries

BRS leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of neglecting Anganwadi workers by delaying salaries and failing to fulfil election promises. He demanded immediate release of pending wages and arrears, while questioning the government's commitment to women's welfare.

Hyderabad: BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of neglecting Anganwadi workers while making promises of women’s empowerment. He said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who promised to turn one crore women into crorepatis, had failed to ensure the timely payment of salaries to Anganwadi teachers.

He demanded the immediate release of two months’ pending salaries and the clearance of enhanced wage arrears due to the upgradation of mini-Anganwadi centres.

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In a statement, Harish Rao questioned the government’s commitment to women, pointing out that around 62,000 Anganwadi teachers and helpers had not received their salaries for the past two months. He said the government should first clear their pending wages before speaking about making women financially prosperous.

He also criticised Women and Child Welfare Minister D Anasuya alias Seethakka, stating that the government had failed to respond to the hardships faced by Anganwadi workers despite making lofty promises.

Pointing to measures taken during the previous BRS government, Harish Rao said Anganwadi workers were redesignated as Anganwadi Teachers and their salaries were substantially increased from Rs 4,200 to Rs 13,530, while the salaries of helpers were increased from Rs 2,200 to Rs 7,800. He said the BRS government had raised their pay to among the highest levels in the country.

The BRSLP deputy leader said the Congress had failed to fulfil promises made in its election manifesto, including increasing Anganwadi teachers’ salaries to Rs 18,000 and extending EPF benefits. He accused the government of ignoring workers’ grievances and recalled police action during protests by Anganwadi workers.