JOIN USMidday meal workers staged protest before the DC’s office, demanding the withdrawal of the proposal to privatise the midday meal scheme.
Addressing the gathering, Dasu Bhandari, the Karnataka Rajya Akshara Dasoha Naukarara Sangha Udupi district president, said there are nearly 12,000 midday meal workers in the state and the funds that were initially announced for the scheme, but later deducted, should be reassured.
The midday meals workers are made to work as bonded labourers. The employees have been assured Rs 4,000 salary, which should be immediately implemented.
Bhandari also demanded that the midday meal workers should be considered as the Group D workers. The policy of equal pay for equal work should be followed. The employees should not be dismissed on reason of attendance.
The summer salary should be assured to the midday meal workers on par with teachers. The accident insurance should be assured and the salary should be ensured on time.
He added that there are nearly 1.20 lakh midday meal workers in state. The centralised working system ensured by the Ministry of Human Resources Development should be withdrawn as there is the threat of many employees losing their job.
The capitalists are offered all sorts of benefits, he said and sarcastically added that the government seems to be least bothered about the poor midday meals workers. It tries to snatch away their right for basic livelihood. The midday meal scheme is instrumental in improving the attendance. The programme should not be stopped, he demanded.
It is almost 16 years since the implementation of the programme but the midday meal workers are still struggling for the regularisation of their employment, Bhandari said.