Midday meal workers stage protest

Demand employment security, hike in monthly pay by Rs 1,000

The district committee of Akshara Dasoha Employees’ Association staged a protest under the aegis of CITU in Mangaluru on Tuesday and urged the Central government to provide more grants to midday meal workers.

CITU district General Secretary Vasant Achari said that the Central government has not raised the salary of midday meal workers in the last seven years. “The government had, in 2015-16, reduced the funds allocated for the project for the integrated development of women and children by Rs 8,000 crore, as against the Rs 16,361 crore allocated in 2014-15. In contrast, the allocation has been fixed at Rs 13,888 in the 2016-17 budget, but the midday meal workers do not see any benefit for them in the government allocation,” complained the leader, also demanding that the monthly salary of the workers should have been raised by least Rs 1,000.

“The workers have conducted Parliament Chalo programme thrice; the situation, however, remains unchanged. A protest was also carried out before the State government on February 19, demanding hike in the monthly wages,” he added.

The midday meal project was implemented under instructions of the Supreme Court, but the workers who work for the success of the project should be treated better by the government, with job security and basic facilities, demanded the leader.

CITU district president J Balakrishna Shetty said that the government, which increases the wages and incentives given to legislators and MPs, has not been taking any steps to improve the quality of living of poor.

Padmavathi Shetty, president of the district committee of Akshara Dasoha Employees’ Association, and secretary Girija Moodbidri spoke during the protest.

A memorandum was submitted to the Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer.
CITU leaders Sadashiva Das, Jayashree, Yashoda, Hemalatha and Monamma were present for the protest.