Workers of Mid-Day Meal Scheme demand hike in salaries

Khammam: District Joint Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Tumma Vishnu Vardhan here on Wednesday demanded that the government fulfil the promises made to the employees working in the Midday Meal Scheme.

The representatives of the Telangana Midday Meal Workers Union staged a sit-in protest in front of the Collectorate at Dharna Chowk here.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishnu Vardhan alleged that the government had failed to enhance the salaries of the workers though they have been working in the scheme for the last 16 years. Basic minimum facilities too were not provided to the workers, he said. He alleged that the government was trying to transfer the management of the programme to voluntary organisations.

The poor people belonging to Backward communities and weaker sections, employed in Midday Meals Scheme would be deprived of their livelihood if the management of the scheme is transferred to voluntary organisations. The government was exerting pressure on the workers to provide three eggs to the children though sufficient budget was not allotted for it. He demanded that the government drop the plans the plans to hand over the management of the scheme to voluntary organisations.

The representatives of the Telangana Midday Meals Workers Union Ch Kumari, V Manemma, Jayamma, Padma, Saidamma, Rani, Mariyamma, Nagamma and Yashoda, the CITU leaders P Durga Prasad and M Chandrashekar were present along with others.