Anganwadi Workers Launch Nationwide Black Day Protests Over Wages

Anganwadi and mid-day meal workers across multiple Indian states launched a series of coordinated protests on July 10, 2026, following a nationwide call by the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers. Protesters in Karnataka, Assam, and Rajasthan observed a Black Day, staging sit-ins and blocking government offices to demand fair wages, social security, and formal recognition as government employees rather than recipients of honorariums.

In Raichur, Karnataka, workers affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions blocked the Deputy Commissioner's Office, calling for the rollback of the National Education Policy and increased funding for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. In Nazira, Assam, workers protested at the Co-District Magistrate's Court, submitting an eight-point charter of demands to the Government of Assam that included the removal of mandatory facial recognition systems and Aadhaar-linked OTP verification for ration schemes.

Concurrent demonstrations in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan focused on specific pay scales. In Visakhapatnam, workers marched to the Collectorate demanding a minimum wage of ₹26,000 and the removal of the Nava Chetana mobile application. Meanwhile, protesters in Jodhpur, Jalore, and Pali sought monthly wages between ₹20,000 and ₹25,000, alongside the implementation of retirement benefits and a ban on contractual appointments. These actions follow similar unrest in Himachal Pradesh during June, highlighting a growing regional trend of labor disputes within the public welfare sector.