Raichur, 10 July

Anganwadi and mid-day meal workers in Raichur on Friday demanded better wages and the rollback of the National Education Policy (NEP), protesting at the Deputy Commissioner's Office as part of a statewide 'Black Day' observance. Protests were also held in Bengaluru.

The Raichur workers, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), raised slogans and blocked the entrance to the Deputy Commissioner's Office, calling for the fulfilment of their several long-pending demands.

Among their demands were increased funding for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to cope with rising costs, rollback of the implementation of the NEP, withdrawal of the move to introduce LKG and UKG classes in government schools, measures to address the declining number of beneficiaries at Anganwadi centres, and better wages, social security and recognition for Anganwadi and mid-day meal workers.

Protest leaders said the policies of both the Central and State Governments are undermining public welfare schemes and putting an additional burden on workers without adequate support.

They warned that protests would be intensified if the government failed to respond positively to their demands.