Mid–day meal workers oppose handing over of scheme to agency

  From Our Correspondent

  SILCHAR, January 3: Mid–day meal workers engaged as cooks and helpers in different schools in the district of Cachar staged protest demonstration here today in support of their six point charters of demands which includes the demand to stop suspending mid day meal workers on account of false accusation besides opposition to the proposal of handing over the responsibility of the Mid Day meal system to any non–governmental organisations.  In unison, they raised their voices against continuing injustice and discrimition towards them despite all their sincerity and seriousness in performing their duties in order to keep running the nutritious mission of the government.

  The members of the union took out a rally from rsingtola, Silchar at around 11 am. They submited a memorandum addressed to the District Inspector of Schools (primary education).

  The Union has expressed its resentment at the reported decision of the government to discontinue the services of mid day meal workers and to entrust its supply and distribution to NGOs and clubs of the areas. The Union besides opposing such a move has condemned it and said if the government takes a negative stand, it will have no option but to seek the help of all other organizations for launching statewide agitation. This will not only paralyse the programme of the State but also affect the children of the schools, physically and mentally. Sadou Asom Mid–Day Meal Workers’ Union, affiliated to CITU and based at Cachar, has said if the condition of the poor workers is not sympathetically looked into, they along with their families will be subjected to untold miseries.

  Aporajita Chakraborty, secretary, Saduo Asom Madhyan Bhojan Karmachari Union (CITU), Cachar and Hailakandi units, referring to the States of Kartaka, Harya, Tripura, Bihar, Kerala among others pointed out that the governments concerned have been providing incentive allowances to the mid–day employees in addition to the Centre’s contribution. The Anganwadi workers and their assistants receive such incentive allowances in Assam. They have demanded payment of such incentive allowances for the mid–day workers as well by the Assam government. But, there has been no positive response or action, they regretted.   They demanded provision of social security with pension, medical allowance as well as insurance to the employees and exemplary punishment to those involved in corruption in the execution of the scheme and elimition of corrupt practices.