Anganwadi workers staged a state-level protest at Mandi and blames state and Centre government for exploiting 36,000 anganwadi workers without paying them a penny for the extra work they have been assigned in the state. Protesting workers were demanding for the status of government servants like their counterparts were getting in Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. Raising anti-government slogans, the anganwadi workers and helpers demanded Rs 5,000 as salary per month for workers and Rs 3,000 per month for helpers and the status and benefits that the state government gives to its servants.