Jagan faces criticism over unmet promises to Anganwadi staff

President of YSRCP and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is currently under intense scrutiny for his failure to uphold promises made to Anganwadi staff before the last election. During his pre-election padayatra throughout the state, Jaganmohan Reddy had fervently pledged to address the longstanding grievances of Anganwadi workers. He promised significant wage increases, surpassing those of their counterparts in Telangana, and vowed to resolve other pertinent issues affecting the community. However, post-election, these assurances appear to have been sidelined, leaving Anganwadi employees disheartened and disillusioned.
Despite a token wage rise of one thousand rupees, the envisioned hike surpassing that of Telangana remains unfulfilled, prompting disappointment among Anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh, who now face a glaring disparity in salaries compared to their counterparts across the border. Moreover, Jaganmohan Reddy’s commitments to address additional concerns such as raising the retirement age, improving retirement benefits, and alleviating workload have seemingly been neglected. A 42-day indefinite strike staged last December to draw attention to these issues yielded limited results, with only partial concessions regarding retirement age being granted by the government.
The failure to release wages for the strike period has further escalated tensions within the Anganwadi community. Despite promises of forming a special committee to redress these grievances, tangible progress remains elusive, fueling accusations of betrayal and deception against the government by Anganwadi workers. In response to mounting frustration, Y. Tulasi, District President of the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, has condemned the government’s inaction, underscoring the urgent need for justice to be served to Anganwadi staff who feel neglected and marginalized by the very authorities they trusted.
With discontent brewing among Anganwadi workers, Jaganmohan Reddy faces a credibility crisis, with the unfulfilled promises of the election campaign casting a shadow over his administration.
The failure to address these grievances not only imperils the welfare of Anganwadi employees but also raises serious questions about the government’s dedication to fulfilling its electoral commitments.