Anganwadi workers and assistants across several districts of southern Tamil Nadu staged large-scale protests on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, demanding the fulfilment of long-pending promises made in the 2021 Assembly election manifesto, including recognition as government employees, time-scale pay, and enhanced retirement benefits. The protests led to traffic disruptions and the detention of nearly 3,000 workers across multiple districts.

In Dindigul, anganwadi workers and assistants gathered near the Dindigul bus stand and attempted a road blockade to press their nine-point charter of demands. The protesters demanded that anganwadi workers and assistants be officially declared government employees, be granted time-scale pay as promised, and be provided a minimum pension. They also sought a gratuity of ₹10 lakh for anganwadi workers and ₹5 lakh for assistants, along with a 30-day summer holiday in May every year, similar to benefits extended to teachers.

The protesters said these assurances had been announced as election promises but were not reflected in the recent budget, prompting them to escalate their agitation into a second phase of protests in the form of road blockades.

As police denied permission for the road roko, heated arguments broke out at the protest site. Despite restrictions, the anganwadi workers climbed over barricades and sat on the road, disrupting traffic for over an hour in the area. Following this, police detained around 1,000 protesters in Dindigul for participating in the road blockade without permission.

Parallel protests were held in other districts as well. Anganwadi workers and assistants affiliated to Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a road roko in front of the Anna Bus Stand in Thoothukudi. The protest was presided over by CITU state vice-president Russel. Police detained 1,056 protesters at the Thoothukudi agitation and later took them to a private marriage hall.

In Tirunelveli district, anganwadi workers blocked vehicular traffic at Vannarpet, leading to the arrest of 401 protesters. In Kanniyakumari district, more than 800 protesters were detained after staging a road roko near the Anna Bus Stand in Nagercoil. Similar agitations were reported from Tenkasi, where police detained over 500 anganwadi workers and assistants.

The protesters reiterated that anganwadi workers and assistants should be brought under time-scale pay and formally recognised as government employees, as promised by the ruling DMK in its 2021 election manifesto. They also demanded a minimum monthly pension of ₹9,000 and enhanced gratuity benefits upon retirement.

Police officials said the detainees were released later in the evening after the protests were called off. The anganwadi workers, however, warned that protests would continue if the government failed to address their demands.

In 2025, Anganwadi workers tried to reach out to DMK MP Kanimozhi over the unfulfilled poll promises, but to no avail.

Source: The Hindu

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Dravidian Model: After Sanitary Workers, Nurses, And Teachers, Now Anganwadi Workers Stage Protests Over Unfulfilled 2021 Poll Promises; Nearly 3,000 Detained appeared first on The Commune.

Image Source: Hindu Tamil

DMK candidate Kalanidhi Veerasamy initiated his campaign in Tiruvottiyur for the North Chennai Lok Sabha constituency, followed by a vote collection program at the Urban Habitat Development Board residence in Kolathur constituency Gautamapuram. Mayor R. Priya and Minister P. K. Shekharbabu led the event, distributing leaflets outlining DMK’s achievements and election manifesto features to voters. 

However, tensions arose when women in the area questioned the party’s motives, citing their exclusion from relief efforts during the December floods despite residing in the Urban Habitat Development Board flats. The women expressed frustration, stating that they were being approached for votes despite being neglected during times of need.  During the event, the women gathered there looked at the DMK members and said, “Why have you come here?”. They started an argument saying that our votes are not eligible for relief on behalf of the party. 

In this regard, the women said, “840 families live in these Urban Habitat Development Board flats. We were all affected by the floods last December, unable to go out. At that time only certain people were given tokens and provided relief and welfare assistance on behalf of the party. When we asked the party members why they did not give us relief, the party members said ‘Did you hold the party flag, raise slogans, come in a procession, why should we give you relief?'”

The ladies complained that they were asking why candidates come to ask for votes from them especially when they are told htat they are not even eligible for such relief.

DMK officials intervened to placate the situation, with Minister Sekhar Babu and candidate Kalanidhi addressing the concerns before the situation escalated. 

Breaking News:

தென் சென்னை, மத்திய சென்னை அடுத்து வட சென்னையிலும் #திமுக வேட்பாளர் #கலாநிதிவீராசாமி , சேகர் பாபு மற்றும் மேயர் பிரியாவை கேள்வி மேல் கேள்வி கேட்டு விரட்டி அடித்த பொது மக்கள்.#NorthChennai #SouthChennai #DMK #CentralChennai #KalanidhiVeerasamy pic.twitter.com/ntvDbEm14T

— Aryabhata | ஆர்யபட்டா (@Aryabhata99) March 29, 2024

This incident echoes similar treatment received by DMK MPs in South Chennai and Central Chennai constituencies. In Mylapore, the incumbent South Chennai MP Tamizhachi Thangapandian was turned away by residents in Bharathi Nagar in the Mylapore locality of South Chennai constituency. 

தென்சென்னையின் சிட்டிங் MP திமுகவை சேர்ந்த @ThamizhachiTh அவர்களை ஓட விட்ட மயிலாப்பூர் தொகுதி மக்கள்

இந்த மக்கள் எழுச்சி அனைத்து பகுதிகளுக்கும் வர வேண்டும்#Annamalai4Coimbatore #CovaiMPAnnamalai #ModiAgainIn2024 #MODIfiedTN #ModiKaParivar #annamalaiBJP pic.twitter.com/Km34G7EViP

— நாட்டாமை (WarRoom Commander ) (@Agmarksanghi) March 26, 2024

This saw a repeat with DMK’s Central Chennai incumbent MP Dayanidhi Maran. Maran seeking re-election from the same constituency, faced opposition from Lock Nagar residents over unfulfilled promises. 

Am proud of you Chennai, first they slapped South Chennai DMK candidate, now they have kicked out the useless Central Chennai DMK candidate the arrogant dynastic jerk Dayanithi Maran pic.twitter.com/DT5jLvuPkx

— Vishwatma ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) March 29, 2024

(with inputs from Hindu Tamil)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post “Why Did You Come Here Now?” North Chennai Incumbent DMK MP Kalanidhi Veerasamy Faces Backlash Of Public appeared first on The Commune.