Mysuru: The indefinite protest launched by anganwadi workers, which began a week ago, has forced many families of daily wage workers to take care of their children.

The Anganwadi workers have decided to continue their protest until their demands are met. However, this decision has disastrous implications for the poor children of daily wage workers. People, who work as daily wage workers used to leave their children in anganwadi centres between 9.30am and 4pm, are the most affected and forced to be with the children, due to the protest.

Mysuru has some 2,750 anganwadi centres, each taking care of 10-35 children in 3-6 age group. The centres serve as a pre-school to poor children, and help government agencies like the health and women and child welfare departments to implement various schemes. Because of the strike, the activities of the departments concerned have come to a halt.

Reportedly they have scheduled to continue their protest till February 19 in Mysuru and have decided to go on a Vidhana Soudha Chalo on February 20. Prior to this, they have also planned to hold a candlelight protest on February 13 and form a human chain for which they have sought permission from the concerned authorities.

The protesters, who have been opposing the move to privatize the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS), are demanding that they be considered as Group-D employees.

‘