Odisha Midday Meal Workers Stage Three-Day Protest Over Unpaid Salaries and Honorarium Demands
For the past three days, midday meal cooks-cum-helpers from across Odisha have been staging a significant protest at Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar. The demonstrators, organized under the All Odisha Midday Meal Cook-cum-Helper Association, are demanding the immediate release of their pending wages and a substantial increase in their monthly honorarium.
Financial Hardship and Unmet Promises
The protesting workers allege that their salaries have not been paid for the last three months, creating severe financial distress. "We are struggling to manage our households without regular income. Despite working continuously, our dues have not been cleared," stated Anjali Swain, one of the protesters. She emphasized that the state government had previously assured resolution of their demands by February following similar demonstrations in December last year, but no action has been taken.
"It is already March and nothing has been done by the state government to look into our problems. To worsen things, our salaries have not been cleared for three months," Swain added, highlighting the growing frustration among the workforce.
Comprehensive Demands Beyond Wage Payments
Beyond clearing the three months of pending payments, the protesters are pressing for several critical improvements to their working conditions:
- Increased monthly remuneration: They argue that the current honorarium is insufficient given the rising cost of living, seeking a hike from the current amount.
- Timely salary disbursement: Demanding that salaries be paid within the first week of every month to ensure financial stability.
- Enhanced retirement age: Proposing an increase in the retirement age to 62 years to provide longer job security.
Government Response and Alternative Arrangements
Officials from the school and mass education department have acknowledged the protest, stating that the government is examining the issues, including the pending salary component. Meanwhile, school heads have been directed to make alternative arrangements for cooking midday meals to ensure students are not affected by the ongoing agitation.
Scale of the Midday Meal Program in Odisha
There are approximately 1,12,090 cooks-cum-helpers employed in government schools across Odisha, responsible for preparing meals under the PM POSHAN Yojana. The midday meal scheme operates with a funding structure where the central government contributes 60% of costs, while the state covers the remaining 40%. Specifically, the Centre manages food grain expenses, while the state bears cooking costs and pays honorariums to the workers.
Last year saw a positive development when the honorarium for these essential workers was increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per month. However, protesters now argue that this amount remains inadequate against inflation and living expenses, prompting their current demands for further improvements.
The protest underscores ongoing challenges in implementing social welfare programs effectively, particularly regarding timely compensation for frontline workers who play a crucial role in child nutrition and education support systems.
