Anganwadi workers launch indefinite strike over 10-point charter of demands in Erode

Urging the State government to fulfil their 10-point charter of demands, members of the Tamil Nadu Federation of Nutritious Meal and Anganwadi Workers’ Association began an indefinite strike and staged a protest at the taluk office premises here on Tuesday (February 3, 2026).

They demanded that the government fill the nearly 60,000 vacancies in anganwadi centres across the State, provide promotions to nutritious meal workers and grant a monthly pension of ₹6,750 after retirement. They also called for the implementation of the breakfast scheme for school students with the involvement of nutritious meal workers.

The protesters alleged that no promotions had been given in the last two years and that appointments on compassionate grounds were not being made. They further sought an increase in the retirement age from the present 60 to 62 years and the extension of 12 days of casual leave, as available to government employees. They also demanded 12 months of paid maternity leave on par with women government employees. The workers boycotted their duties, staged a protest and raised slogans.