Tue Aug 05 01:56:47 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it:

**Summary:**

Anganwadi workers and helpers in Visakhapatnam, India, are protesting and boycotting online work due to inadequate mobile phones and app issues. They cite problems with the Poshan and Bala Sanjeevini Apps, poor connectivity, server issues, and the burden of multiple apps. Their demands include better wages, upgrading mini-Anganwadis, guidelines for promotions, and improved technology like tablets with 5G connectivity. They’ve expressed their grievances to the Urban CDPO and plan to continue protesting.

**News Article:**

**Visakhapatnam Anganwadi Workers Boycott Online Duties Over Tech Issues**

**VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA – August 5, 2025** – Anganwadi workers and helpers in Visakhapatnam initiated a boycott of online work starting today, citing significant technological deficiencies with the mobile phones provided to them. Protests were staged at the ICDS Office on Monday, August 4th, as workers declared their intention to continue essential offline duties while refusing to use the problematic digital systems.

Representing multiple unions, including AP Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (CITU), AP Angawadi Workers and Helpers Association (AITUC), and AP Pragathiseela Anganwadi Workers and Helpers and Union (IFTU), workers claim the supplied mobile phones are incompatible with the Poshan and Bala Sanjeevini Apps, essential for tracking beneficiary services. Key issues include difficulties in photo capture, OTP verification, and ensuring beneficiaries receive commodities in a timely manner. The workers also mentioned the extra issues poor network connectivity and frequent server issues that adds more problems.

“These phones simply aren’t up to the task,” stated P. Mani, a union leader at the protest. “We are being asked to manage multiple apps on inadequate devices, making it difficult to serve the community effectively.” The protesters are requesting that the multiple apps be combined into one to reduce the workload as well as tablets with 5G connectivity to make the work easier.

In addition to the technological concerns, the workers are demanding a wage increase, the conversion of Mini Anganwadis into Main Anganwadis, and clear guidelines for the promotion of Helpers.

Leaders of the protest said their mobile phones were refused by the Urban CDPO. The protest is expected to continue on Tuesday. K. Venkatalakshmi, president of the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, CITU, highlighted the increased workload and the problems caused by poor connectivity and server issues at a separate protest held near R&B junction. AITUC leaders M. Venkata Lakshmi, P. Syamala Devi, P. Kruparani and A. Nookaratnam also participated in the protest.

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