Pay salaries of Anganwadi workers: Harish to govt

Hyderabad: Former minister T Harish Rao has said the govt, instead of luring women with false promises, should first pay salaries of Anganwadi workers and “uphold the respect you have for women”. In a statement on Tuesday, Harish Rao asked chief minister (CM) A Revanth Reddy to see the hardships of 62,000 Anganwadi workers, who have been facing severe difficulties without salaries for two months.He said, unfortunately, minister Seethakka, a woman minister, fails to understand the tears and grief of fellow women. He said when KCR (K Chandrasekhar Rao) was CM, he recognised the services of Anganwadis, upgraded their post by declaring that they were not workers but Anganwadi teachers. He enhanced their respect.Before 2014, Anganwadi teachers used to receive only Rs 4,200 and their helpers Rs 2,200 per month. But after BRS came to power, they increased the wages of Anganwadi teachers to Rs 13,650, while the wages of mini Anganwadi teachers to Rs 7,800, and the wages of Anganwadi helpers to Rs 7,800, paying the highest in the country.In the election manifesto given under the name ‘Abhayahastam, Congress announced that they would increase the wages of Anganwadi teachers to Rs 18,000 and bring them under the EPF and provide job security. “Saying deceptive words, even though two and a half years have passed, there is no trace or progress on the promise given. Congress stance is like showing heaven in the palm before elections and propagating lies after coming to power,” he added.He demanded the Congress govt release the pending salaries of Anganwadis for the past two months, and that the increased wages, pending for a year for the upgraded mini Anganwadis, be paid immediately.