Privatisation of mid-day meal scheme criticised

Regularise services of Akshara Dasoha workers

 The Udupi district unit of Karnataka state Akshara Dasoha Workers Association affiliated to CITU staged a protest in front of DC office on Monday against the state government’s decision to privatise the maintenance of the mid-day meal scheme.

Forwarding the memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah through Deputy Commissioner Dr M T Reju, Udupi District President of Karnataka State Akshara Dasoha Workers Association, Dasu Bhandary said that the state government’s decision to privatise t he programme will displace countless workers working under the programme. The government is planning to snatch the livelihood sources of nearly one lakh women who work for meagre salary without any job security.

Bhandary demanded that the government should not assign the responsibilities of the programme to the private companies and NGOs. The government should monitor the scheme and transparency should be maintained. The services of mid-day meal workers should be regularised and should be given minimum wages.  CITU leader also demanded the government to set up kitchen in all government schools with clean drinking water facility. The government should also take measures to offer milk, egg, banana compulsorily to eradicate the malnutrition problem among kids. Besides cereals should be provided based on the regional food culture.