Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Feb 2: Anganwadi Workers from across the district, Karnataka State Anganwadi Employees Association and Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a massive protest urging fulfillment of their various demands and to oppose the privatisation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) here on Monday, February 2 in front of DC Office, Mangaluru.

Addressing the gathering, district CITU secretary Vasant Achar said, "Today every pregnant woman is being admitted to the hospital for delivery with the state of mind that 2-3 kids are enough. To learn basic education parents send their kids outside. Anganwadi teachers provide 500 grams of food and also basic education for these kids. But the Central Government has suggested to privatise the Anganwadis."

"Even today there is malnutrition in India upto 48%. 78% people are suffering from anaemia. In Karnataka, out of one lac pregnant women, 128 women die during delivery. The central government is not taking any steps to prevent these problems, rather they are trying to make new implementations," he added.

CITU leader B M Bhat urged the state government to provide minimum of 15,000 wages for the anganwadi employees. "Central Government is busy making profits with the corporate world. Anganwadi workers who have worked for 39 years should get the minimum benefits and harassment on anganwadi employees should be stopped. Our state leaders are going to hold a protest in Freedom Park in front of the Vidhana Saudha, Bengaluru. We are going to hold an indefinite strike till February 15," he added.

DYFI president Muneer Katipalla, ex- corporator Jayanthi Shetty, Ravi Kala, Shekar Belthangady, Sunil Kumar Bajal, Nirmala Bhat and others were also present on this occasion.