More than 3,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers from Kendrapada district staged a mass dharna at the Collector’s office on Monday, pressing for a six‑point charter of demands addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
With the Collector absent, the delegation met Additional Collector Rabindra Kumar Mallik and submitted the memorandum, which sought a salary hike, enhanced service benefits, abolition of biometric attendance, job regularisation, and social security measures.
The protest was organised under the banner of the All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association with support from the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS). District leaders including Pushpalata Rath, Sarojini Behura, Geetanjali Kar, Lili Tripathy, Arundhati Lenka, Shailabala Mahapatra, and Latika Barik led the demonstration, joined by BMS representatives Basanta Kumar Sahu and Shantanu Mallik.
Workers highlighted that despite years of service, they continue to receive meagre pay and limited benefits, while being deployed in critical assignments ranging from flood relief to census operations. They urged the government to act swiftly on their long‑pending demands.
Additional Collector Mallik assured the protesters that their demands, particularly the call to abolish biometric attendance, would be discussed with the Collector and necessary steps taken.
The dharna, which lasted for several hours, disrupted routine work at the Collectorate. Protesters vowed to continue their agitation until the government takes a positive decision on their demands.
