Protesting Jharkhand Anganwadi women workers beaten by cops     

Jharkhand Anganwadi workers who are on the 13th day of a hunger strike for various demands, were beaten by police officials on September 24, as reported by The Quint. Anganwadi Sevika Sahayaka Sangh workers were beaten up in Jharkhand's Ranchi by the police on the 40th consecutive day of their protest, out of which they have been on a hunger strike for 12 days. The protest was organised near Raj Bhavan in Jharkhand’s Ranchi.

In a video of the incident, there are no women police officials to be seen. A policeman can be seen using his lathi and punching a woman on her right arm after he kept beating her with a lathi.

Why are they protesting?

1. Anganwadi workers are demanding that they be declared government workers. Till then the sevikas should be paid ₹18,000 and sahayakas should be paid ₹9,000.

2. Mini anganwadi sevikas should be treated the same way anganwadi sisters are treated.

3. To end the practice of an upper age limit while granting promotions to the anganwadi workers.

4. Anganwadi workers should be given social security benefits.

5. Retirement age of workers should be increased to 65 from 60 years, like was done by the Bihar government. At retirement sevikas should be given ₹5 lakh and sahayakas should be given ₹3 lakh.

The Quint contacted the DGP of Jharkhand Kamal Nayan Chaubey, but the call went unanswered. However, the news website managed to speak to DIG Ranchi Homkar Venkat who said, “We have instructed the SSP of Ranchi, Anish Gupta, to look into the entire matter and investigate how it happened. Based on those findings we will decide what further action is needed.”