Hundreds of midday meal workers in Mangaluru took to the streets on Monday, staging a powerful demonstration to voice their long-standing grievances over inadequate pay and working conditions. The protest, part of a wider statewide movement, saw more than 400 workers gather near the iconic Clock Tower under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
Voices of Protest Against "Inhumane" Treatment
The atmosphere was charged as the workers, primarily women, raised slogans condemning the central government for what they described as inhumane treatment. Their core accusation is the failure to provide a minimum wage that allows for a decent standard of living. Currently, these workers receive a mere honorarium of Rs. 4,500 per month, a sum they argue is impossible to survive on in today's economy.
Inaugurating the sit-in protest, J Balakrishna Shetty, the president of CITU's Dakshina Kannada district unit, did not mince words. He stated that the workers are leading a repressed life due to the meagre wages. "The central government, which disrespects them under the guise of honorarium, should be challenged with a determined struggle," Shetty asserted, highlighting the gap between their essential service and the compensation they receive.
Funding Cuts and Extended Work Hours Alleged
Other leaders elaborated on the systemic issues plaguing the scheme. Sunil Kumar Bajal, the district general secretary of CITU, pointed a finger at the Narendra Modi-led government. He claimed that since 2014, the central government has continuously reduced its share of funding for the midday meal scheme, which was launched nationally in 2001.
Bajal also highlighted a significant disparity between official mandates and ground reality. While the government officially sets a four-hour workday for these workers, in practice, many are forced to toil for up to eight hours to complete all their duties. "Yet the government remains silent on this exploitation," he added.
Demands for Dignity and Job Security
The protesters presented clear and unified demands for their future. Padmavathi Shetty, the district honorary president of the Midday Meal Workers Association, emphasised the urgent need for the upcoming union budget to finally implement a respectable minimum wage for all workers associated with the scheme.
She also insisted on two critical structural changes. First, she demanded that the midday meal scheme must not be outsourced to private entities, a move often feared to compromise quality and worker rights. Second, and most importantly, she called for the government to recognize midday meal workers as permanent employees. This status would entitle them to all statutory benefits like pension, provident fund, and paid leave, providing much-needed job security and social protection.
The sit-in protest in Mangaluru stands as a stark reminder of the struggle faced by the backbone of India's flagship school nutrition program. As the state-wide agitation gains momentum, all eyes are on the central government's response to these calls for economic justice and dignity for lakhs of workers across the country.
