New Delhi: The government has invited striking Anganwadi workers and helpers for talks on February 26.

Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty promised a delegation of workers, which met him here on Monday, that Commissioner of Women Development and Child Welfare and Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, would hold the talks.

The delegation submitted a memorandum, demanding increase in salaries and seeking redressal of service-related problems.

Commissioner of Women Development and Child Welfare Chiranjiv Choudhary told newspersons later that Anganwadi workers have been on strike partially from February 11 and totally from February 15, in support of their demands.

Meanwhile, general secretary of the A.P. Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Union, P. Roja, said that Rs. 3,300 paid to workers as salary was a pittance and demanded that the government increase it to Rs.10,000 a month. She also wanted the government to extend retirement benefits to them as is the case in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.