For the past month, Anganwadi centers across Maharashtra have been closed due to a strike by Anganwadi workers and helpers, impacting the nutritional and health status of lakhs of children in the state

"Families in the village ask us when the school will restart. There are many malnourished children who need to be fed. We feel bad too, but if we do not do this, no one will listen to our complaints," said Sujata Indalkar, who was part of about two lakh Anganwadi protesters

The women want their salaries to be Rs 26,000, up from Rs 10,000 for the workers and Rs 20,000, increased from the current Rs 5,500, for the helpers

The quantum of work done by the two is attested by the number of children benefiting under Anganwadi schemes in the state

According to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, in 2021, a total of 64 lakh 25 thousand 949 children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years benefited from its supplementary nutrition program, and 24 lakh 21 thousand 736 children in the age group of 3 to 6 benefited from its preschool education program, both carried out by Anganwadi workers

"We do not want children to suffer, but the conditions under which Anganwadi workers do their job are inhumane. They are compelled to also be domestic workers for an additional source of income. These are essential service workers; is this how we want to treat them? They need to be recognized as government employees," said Shubha Shamim, president of Anganwadi Karmachari Sanghatana said

Indalkar arrived in Mumbai early morning on Wednesday from Ramnagar village under Satara district. Like her, there are at least 50 other workers and helpers from villages of Satara who undertook this 200 km journey together