Lokesh assures to resolve anganwadi workers’ issues

Anakapalli: The state government is harassing anganwadi workers who are protesting to voice their ire in a democratic manner, alleged TDP national secretary Nara Lokesh.

During his ‘Yuva Galam’ padayatra taken here on Thursday, he expressed solidarity with the community and lamented that their voices were muzzled by the YSRCP.

The anganwadi workers informed Lokesh that the state government neglected them by being insensitive towards their requirements and anganwadi centres have been forcibly occupied by breaking the locks. Illegal cases are being registered against them, they informed Lokesh.

The anganwadi workers demanded regularisation of their services with a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month along with retirement benefits besides payment of pension. This apart, they wanted the Supreme Court judgment on gratuity be implemented and promotions for all the eligible candidates. Further, they said that Travelling Allowances (TD) and Dearness Allowances (DA) have been kept pending since 2017 and demanded that the dues should be cleared immediately.

Responding to the anganwadi workers and helpers, Lokesh said the TDP would extend its support to their ongoing agitation and promised to lift all the illegal cases registered against them once the TDP-Jana Sena combine forms the next government.

The villagers of Kattupalem and Somalingapalem met Lokesh at Elamanchili ‘Y’ Junction and told him that even basic amenities like streetlights, roads and drainage are not being provided to them. Though Rs 120 crore was sanctioned by the TDP regime, the YSRCP government has not spent even a single rupee to address the issues, they lamented.

Talking about the local bodies, Lokesh said the government looted the funds released by the Centre for the local bodies. “We will certainly strengthen the local bodies once we return to power and all the works taken up by the earlier TDP government will be completed,” Lokesh assured the villagers.