Shillong, August 30: After the SSA teachers and the ASHA workers, unrest is spreading among mid-day meal workers under the rule of the MDA government. On August 29, midday meal workers staged a protest at the Additional Secretariat parking lot under the banner of All Jaintia Midday Meal Workers Union.
The mid-day meal workers’ union has claimed that in spite of repeated complaints and reminders sent to Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, since 2019, no initiatives have been taken to resolve their grievances. They have stated that they did not receive any response from the MDA government either.
Meghalaya TMC, on reaching the ground witnessed the deplorable condition of the mid-day meal workers first hand. In Borobhuipara Upgraded SSA UP School, mid-day meals had to be stopped since June owing to lack of infrastructure and drinkable water. In spite of being connected to Jal Jeevan Mission, drinking water supply in the school is non-existent.
In Deinthare Lower Primary school SSA, Moodymmai, the school children are compelled to bring in wood to receive meals. In the same school, it has been reported that the pre-primary students are deprived from receiving the mid-day meals altogether. The school authorities have claimed that the payment for the cook (1000/- per month)is grossly inadequate to provide meals every day to children.
In light of the reprehensible state of affairs, the demands of the workers, including the honorarium-free months of December and January in the payroll increase their current monthly compensation of Rs. 100/- to Rs. 900/- install LPG appliances in every kitchen in an effort to protect the environment.
A mid-day meal worker from the protest ground said, “We, the midday meal workers, cooks, have been tolerant for years. We can’t bear the carelessness of the government anymore. It is our request to the government to pay our due honorarium as soon as possible. We are paid the bare minimum amount of Rs. 100/- monthly; it is our humble request to raise it to Rs. 900/-. Otherwise, please abolish the mid-day meal scheme.”
Incapable of paying the bare minimum honorarium to the midday meal workers, the glaring incompetence of the MDA Government is exposed yet another time. From teachers’ to mid-day meal workers, everyone in Meghalaya is tormented and distressed under the MDA government.
