Oppn walkout in support of Anganwadi workers

Hyderabad, Mar 21 (UNI) The main Opposition the TDP, the TRS and the CPI(M) today staged a walkout in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly demanding enhancement of honorarium for Anganwadi workers under the Centrally-sponsrored Integrated Child Development Scheme.

Dissatisfied with Women and Child Welfare Minister N Rajyalakshmi's reply to a calling attention motion, TDP legislator K Acham Naidu alleged that money had changed hands in the appointment of the Anganwadi workers and led his party members out.

Earlier, the Minister informed the House that within limitations of state finances, the State Government had sanctioned additional honorarium of Rs 400 per month to the Anganwadi workers and additional Rs 200 to Anganwadi helpers. The demand for improvement of their working conditions had to be addressed by the Centre, she said.

She said the TDP, which had not provided any amount additional to what the Centre had sanctioned when it was in power, had no moral right to point an accusing finger at the Government.

Protesting against increasing the working hours for the Anganwadi workers without hiking the honorarium proportionately, TRS Floor Leader K Vijayarama Rao led the walkout of his party members.

CPI(M) Floor leader N Narasimaiah demanded that the Government improved facilities in Anganwadi Centres. Tribals were forced to sell their children, he alleged.

CPI Floor leader Ch Venkata Reddy registered his party's protest over inadequate facilities in Anganwadi centres and non-provision of minimum wages to workers.

UNI