Anganwadi Workers and Helpers announce a strike on March 19th if their demands are not met.

Anganwadi Workers and Helpers announce a strike on March 19th if their demands are not met.

Chandigarh 28 February ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : A meeting of the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union was held on February 19th, 2026, under the chairmanship of President Neelam Kumari. The meeting discussed in detail the demands submitted by Heroine on November 28th, 2025, and it was noted that despite the union's advertisement and general body meeting, appealing to the Social Welfare Department to resolve the demands through dialogue with the Department, the Social Welfare Department officials were not taking any action. 

The meeting took immediate note of this fact, and it was realized that all the demands submitted on November 28th are still pending, leading to a wave of anger among Anganwadi workers and helpers. The demands submitted to the Social Welfare Department included a demand for granting DC rates to Anganwadi workers and helpers, similar to those in Pondicherry and Kerala. The demands raised included fixed duty hours, TA, DA, and medical allowances, and timely payment of honorarium. Addressing problems with attendance through the Face App and granting exemptions to helpers. Granting summer and winter holidays, granting Anganwadi workers and helpers experience in promotions, and granting them relaxation in qualifications. An increase in the promotion quota was also demanded. When the Social Welfare Department refused to accept the demands, the union held a general body meeting and appealed to the union to resolve the issues through dialogue. However, even after three months, the demands remain pending. The reason for the Social Welfare Department not resolving the demands is a different matter; they were not even discussed. Therefore, at the union meeting on February 19th, it was decided to hold a protest and demonstration in front of the Social Welfare Department office on March 19th. 

Present at the meeting were Federation of UT Employees and Workers Chandigarh President Gopal Dutt Joshi, President Rajendra Katoch, General Secretary Harkesh Chand, and Vice President M.M. Subrahmanyam, who strongly supported the demands of Anganwadi workers. They strongly condemned the Social Welfare Department officials for their negative attitude towards the demands and warned that if the demands are not discussed and a solution is found, the Federation will participate in large numbers in the protest being held in front of the Social Welfare Department office on March 19th. The officials of the Anganwadi Workers and Helper Union appealed to all Anganwadi workers to participate in large numbers in the protest on March 19th.