Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of anganwadi workers swarmed the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here on Tuesday demanding immediate fulfilment of some of their demands.

The protesters took out a rally from Master Canteen Square and attempted to march towards the Assembly raising slogans against the state government. Police personnel confronted them while they tried to force their way towards the Assembly and a scuffle ensued between the protesters and the law enforcers.

Later, as many as 10 platoons of police force were deployed at the spot to prevent any untoward incident.

The anganwadi workers demanded a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month, a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month and implementation of the 45th and 46th recommendations of the Indian Labour Conference.

The Odisha government last year had announced a hike in the monthly remuneration of agitating Anganwadi workers.

The announcement of the hike of the honorarium came after the agitating workers met Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik in October last year.

The salary of the anganwadi workers was enhanced to Rs 6,000 per month then, while the salaries of mini-anganwadi workers and helpers were increased to Rs 4,125 and Rs 3,000 respectively.

But, the anganwadi workers were not happy with that and had demanded fulfilment of all their demands.

"We had held talks with the state government last year. But despite an assurance, nothing has happened so far," said convener of the protesting anganwadi workers Bijay Jena.

Presiding over the protest meeting, Jena emphasised on implementation of assurance given by the state government on October 17 last year.

The rally was organised under Sanjukta Morcha, a combination of three major unions - Nikhil Odisha Anganwadi Karmi Sangha led by the Aituc, the Paschim Odisha Anganwadi Karmi O Sahayika Sangha led by the NFIW and the Odisha Anganwadi Workers and Helpers' Association led by the Citu.

They also threatened to intensify the agitation if the state government failed to fulfil their demands.