Midday meal staff to stage dharna

Demanding minimum wages, accident cover and retirement benefits, mid-day meal workers will stage an indefinite dharna at Freedom Park in Bengaluru from December 2.

Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, AITUC district general secretary S Vijay Kumar said that workers from all districts will take part in the dharna.

"The government is neglecting the mid-day meal workers. Workers who have been preparing food for a monthly salary of Rs 2,600 for the past 16 years have been terminated, quoting the reason as less number of children. The Central government has not released its share towards mid-day meal workers from the past five years".

Vijay Kumar meanwhile said that the AITUC national general council meet will be held on December 2, 3 and 4.

A rally has also been organised on the occasion. Issues related to workers will be discussed during the meet.

Federation district president G Raghu urged the government to fix wages along the Kerala and Tamilnadu model.