Haryana accepts key Anganwadi workers’ demands after protests: CITU

The Haryana Government has accepted several long-pending demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers following protests in Panchkula and Bhiwani, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Haryana, said in a statement on Thursday (June 11, 2026).

The protests were organised by Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union Haryana, affiliated to the CITU. In Bhiwani, workers staged a demonstration before Women and Child Development Minister Shruti Choudhry.

Following the protests, a union delegation held a nearly three-hour meeting with the government chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Shekhar Vidyarthi at the Irrigation Department Headquarters in Panchkula. The talks focused on the union’s 16-point charter of demands.

According to the union, the government agreed to several key demands. These include the payment of gratuity to Anganwadi workers and helpers in line with a 2022 Supreme Court judgment. Officials informed the delegation that the proposal was under process and likely to be approved soon.

The government also assured that honorarium withheld from workers dismissed during the strike period would be released by June 30. Anganwadi workers would continue to be included in promotion lists, officials said. Cases registered against Anganwadi activists during protests in Gurugram, Charkhi Dadri and other districts have been withdrawn, and a formal communication to this effect will be issued by the State government, according to the union.

Additional Chief Secretary Vidyarthi assured the union that all accepted demands would be implemented in the stipulated time frame. He also said strict departmental action would be taken against local officials for any negligence in implementation.

The union described the talks as highly positive. To press for the implementation of a minimum wage of ₹26,000, recognition of Anganwadi Workers as Class-III employees and Helpers as Class-IV employees, and other pending demands, a “Demand Day” will be observed against the Central Government on July 10.

On August 10, all 48,000 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers across Haryana will court arrest and participate in “Jail Bharo” actions at district headquarters throughout the State.