Mid-day meal workers stage dharna seeking budget relief

The Karnataka State United Akshara Dasoha (Mid-Day Meal) Workers’ Union, Mysuru, staged a dharna outside the Zilla Panchayat office here on January 17, urging the Union government to fulfil the long-pending demands of mid-day meal workers in the forthcoming Union Budget.

The protesters urged the Centre to ensure the welfare of mid-day meal workers. One of the key demands is for mid-day meal workers to be recognised as government employees. Until such recognition is granted, the workers’ union demanded that workers be provided with minimum wages and other statutory benefits.

The protesters also sought periodic revisions of honorariums in line with rising prices, along with the provision of retirement pensions, Employees’ State Insurance, and provident fund benefits. In addition, they demanded a one-time gratuity of at least ₹5 lakh for workers retiring after rendering long years of service.

Opposing any move to hand over the mid-day meal scheme to private agencies or non-governmental organisations, the protesters insisted that the programme should continue to be implemented directly by the government.

The protesters said that a memorandum outlining their demands will be submitted to the Prime Minister through the office of the Mysuru Zilla Panchayat CEO.