Guwahati, July 21: Around 1.5 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers in Assam have decided to form a federation to fight for their demands.

Three organisations of Anganwadi employees - Assam State Anganwadi Helper Union, Mini Anganwadi Worker Union and Anganwadi Worker Union - will constitute the federation here on Wednesday.

Among their various demands, a hike in salary topped the list.

"We want Rs 10,500 for a worker and Rs 8,400 for a helper. But the government has failed to respond to our demand," the president of All Assam Anganwadi Worker Union, Ranima Das, told The Telegraph .

She said the federation would continue to the fight against the Centre's decision to hand over Anganwadi centres to the private sector.

"We have always fought against privatisation," she added.

The government does not recognise Anganwadi workers and helpers as its employees.

"We have done everything that the government directed us to do like conduct census and survey. But we are not entitled to any benefit under the government," said the general secretary of Assam State Mini Anganwadi Worker Union, Deveswari Bodo.

Besides salary hike, other demands of the workers and helpers include allotment of Rs 2 lakh as the one-time compensation to every centre, providing bicycle and mobile to every worker and upgrade all mini Anganwadi centres to full-fledged ones.

"A series of demonstrations were held on the campus of directorate of social welfare here for the last three months. Several rounds of talks were also held but nothing has happened till date," Bodo said.

In Assam, there are about 5,000 workers and helpers engaged in mini Anganwadi centres (which are mainly located in the minority and ST-dominated areas) and 1,25,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers.