Protesters Heavily Criticise the Fascist, Authoritarian and Anti-Women Double-Engine BJP Government
Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 2 September 2025. On 1 September, under the call for a one-day state-wide strike, the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Joint Forum, Chhattisgarh, organised a public meeting, rally and massive demonstration in Abhanpur, Raipur district. After the protest, a memorandum addressing the Chief Minister and the Minister of Women and Child Development of Chhattisgarh was submitted to the SDM, Abhanpur, outlining the workers’ demands.
In the public meeting, comrade Tuhin (All India Convenor, Caste Annihilation Movement & Revolutionary Cultural Forum)
presented a people’s song and shared his views. The meeting was chaired by Hema Bharti, President of the Progressive Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union. Key speakers included Vice President Rukmini Sahu, Treasurer Laxmi Kosle, along with Rukmini Sahu, Meena Sahu, Shakuntala Dewangan, Chitrarekha Goswami from the Chhattisgarh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, Comrade Soura, State Secretary of CPI (ML) Red Star, Comrade Prasad Rao, Convenor of Jan Sangharsh Morcha Chhattisgarh, Comrade Som Goswami, State Committee Member of CPI, and Comrade Padam Netam, State Committee Member of Adivasi Bharat Mahasabha. Durga Yadav, State Committee Member of All India Revolutionary Women’s Organisation, conducted the programme, while Comrade Hemant Tandon, State Committee Member of TUCI, gave the vote of thanks.
Significant contributions to the success of the programme came from comrades Thansingh Mande, Mulchand Sahu, Leela Narang, Anita Chelak, Anita Dahariya, Pramila Banjare, Yogita Sahu, Radha Tandon and Rajeshwari Soni. A large number of Anganwadi workers and helpers from Raipur district participated in the militant demonstration.
Speakers exposed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the world’s largest and oldest fascist organisation, and its political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for their agenda of establishing a Hindu Rashtra based on Manuvadi Hindutva. While bythey raise the slogan of “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter”, they protect BJP strongman MPs like Brijbhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers, and fraudulent godmen such as Ram Rahim and Asaram Bapu, convicted rapists and murderers—either releasing them from prison with honour or never jailing them at all. The Sangh Parivar-led BJP wants a brutal Manusmriti-based Hindu Rashtra, which seeks to enslave women—especially Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Despite making them perform numerous governmental duties beyond the scope of their centres, the BJP government refuses to grant them the status and respect of government employees. In truth, neither the Modi-led central government nor the Vishnudev Sai-led state government wants to save or educate daughters. They are closing down government schools
en masse, privatising, commercialising and saffronising education, depriving girls of their right to education, while overburdening Anganwadi workers with increasing workloads and stripping them of their constitutional right to protest.
In the memorandum submitted to the state government, the Joint Forum demanded the immediate reinstatement of six union office bearers and members who were dismissed from service after the Directorate issued a threatening letter in response to their legitimate and long-pending demands.
The memorandum further highlighted the hypocrisy of the government: while workers are labelled as “volunteers” when it comes to paying them wages, they are punished more harshly than government employees for even minor mistakes, facing termination or deduction of honorarium leading to economic blockade.
The Joint Forum demanded:
Withdrawal of repressive measures such as threatening letters, termination orders, deductions, and coercive undertakings or apology bonds barring participation in strikes and protests.
Granting of third-grade government employee status to Anganwadi workers and fourth-grade status to helpers.
Until such status is given, payment of minimum wages of ₹26,000 for workers and ₹21,100 for helpers.
Additional benefits including dearness allowance, pension, gratuity, cashless health scheme, group insurance, and provision of mobiles or tablets for digital work.
Promotion of Anganwadi workers to supervisor posts and helpers to worker posts when vacancies arise.
The Joint Forum warned that if these demands are not fulfilled, a state-wide militant struggle would be launched against the BJP government for its betrayal of promises.
Hema Bharti
President, Progressive Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union
