Protest the attack on the striking anganwadi workers and helpers by AP Police

Protest the attack on the striking anganwadi workers and helpers by AP Police

Chandigarh 3 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) strongly condemn the cowardly attack by Chandrababu Naidu led Andhra Pradesh government on the striking anganwadi workers and helpers in Vijayawada in the early hours today, 3rd March 2026. CITU National Vice President, Anganwadi Union state President and AIFAWH Vice President Baby Rani has been injured in the police attack on the workers. AIFAWH expresses its solidarity and support to the struggling anganwadi employees of Andhra Pradesh for their strong and united agitation on their long pending just demands.

It has to be recalled that after 42 days long strike the previous AP government has made an agreement for wage hike with the unions. During that struggle, during the police repression, the then opposition leader and the current chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited our agitation camp and promised to increase the honorarium, if he comes to power. Again last year he repeated his promise. But since 2024, since he has come to power many representations were submitted but of no effect. Wage Hike has not been implemented and even a single rupee has not been increased since last 5 years in Andhra Pradesh. 

In this background the joint platform of the three unions CITU, AITUC and IFTU have decided to launch two days Maha Dharna in Vijayawada on 2nd and 3rd March, 2026. On 2nd March program started and about 15000 workers has attended the programme. Workers decided to continue the peaceful dharna throughout night in Vijayawada in “Dharna Chowk”. 

In the early hours of 3rd March at 4:00 a.m., without any provocation, the police suddenly attacked the sleeping anganwadi employees, demolished the tent and arrested about 1000 workers including the state General Secretary K Subbaravamma. All the workers were taken to faraway police stations about 100 KM away. Late in the day, they were released. Many workers including G Babyrani were injured. AIFAWH believes that the police action taken early morning to suppress the workers' voices reflects the government's panic and anti-people mindset. AIFAWH condemns this cowardly and unprovoked police highhandedness and warn the government to restrain from such acts against democratic protests of the people. 

The unions have decided to intensify the struggle. Throughout the state the unions will organise massive mobilisations at district headquarters tomorrow. AIFAWH demands that the chief minister immediately call the representatives of the striking unions for talks and fulfill his promises made during the 42 days long historic struggle of the AP anganwadi employees facing ESMA.  AIFAWH appeals to all its affiliate state Anganwadi workers and helpers unions across the country, to raise their voices and protest the attack on the peaceful protest by AP government.