Inspiring Journey – From Anganwadi Teacher To Assembly

Anganwadi teacher-turned-legislator Miryala Sirisha is a true inspiration to many tribals. Hailing from a tribal background, Sirisha has risen to become Rampachodavaram (ST reserved) MLA in ASR district, out of sheer grit and determination.

After clearing her B.Ed examination, she aspired to become a government teacher. In the meanwhile, she began working as a teacher in the Anganwadi centre in her village, drawing a meagre Rs 11,000 salary per month.

Her husband Matham Vijaya Bhaskar is a TDP youth wing leader in Rampachodavaram Assembly segment. When she chanced to meet Lokesh during Yuva Galam Padayatra in Mangalagiri, she told him that she would like to work in politics.

When Lokesh asked her the reason, she said she would like to fight for the rights of the Anganwadi workers.

Though an MLA now, Sirisha still prefers travelling in an auto. Even after becoming an MLA, she continues to teach at the Rajavommangi Anganwadi centre. “I would never forget my roots. This is the place from where my growth started and I will continue to be grateful to this,” she said.

Briefing about the hardships of the Anganwadi workers, the MLA said that many of her colleagues had even suffered heart attacks due to work pressure. The eligibility for Anganwadi workers and teachers is clearing Class X exams but a majority of them had cleared only 3rd class or 4th class exams. So, they face problem working and filling data on online apps, which are mostly in English. They face a lot of pressure due to this, she said.

She also explained how the YCP leaders harassed her and threatened her of removing from job when her husband posted the photo of her meeting TDP scion Lokesh. The higher officials admonished me for being involve in politics even while working as a Anganwadi teacher, she said.

Sirisha said that she wanted to increase the employability of youth in her constituency. Many of them are jobless even after clearing DSC and DIET exams. A few others are even migrating to other places in search of livelihood, she said.

The tribal MLA said she would also like to address drinking water issue, lack of roads to remote villages, providing education and medicine to tribals in the constituency.