Disagreement between Mid-day Meal Associations over NGO Protest

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The protest of mid-day meal workers against the Government’s move of handing over the responsibility to NGO’s, is taking a contradictory turn as two organizations comprising of mid-day meal workers, stand with two different statements. Whereas one organization is taking a massive protest programme, the other strongly opposes the ongoing protest.

Addressing a press conference at Dispur Press Club on Friday, the Sadou Asom Prathamik & Uccha Prathamik Vidyalaya Madhyahno Bhojan Karmachari Santha stated that the organization stand totally against the protest currently going on against NGO’s. The Sangstha said, “We have no issue with Government’s move regarding mid day meal, as long as our students are provided with healthy food without compromising the job security.”

Working President of the Sangstha, Jiten Rabha said, “It’s not the mistake of a particular minister. We’ve been waiting for long and we are continuously fighting for salary hike and job security. We must not forget that there is a guideline, where it is clearly mentioned that handing over the responsibility to NGO’s will not harm the mid day meal workers and our jobs are secured. So fighting against the NGOs carries no meaning. When it will come to losing our jobs or providing unhealthy food, we will be there to fight against it. But currently, the Education Minister has ordered for an investigation so, we should focus on other issues including the minimum wages and salary for twelve months.”

General secretary Akani Deori said, “The protest is actually harming the students including the workers. We’ll keep on fighting for salary hike, regularization of job and job security. Even though we are not against NGO’s, if there is violation of students and workers, we will protest.” The Sangstha further asked for a high level investigation even for the irregularities happening in most of the schools and stated that the mid day meal workers can never have Rs 9000 as their salary as per the guideline. So, the Sangstha demanded for at least Rs 5000 per month for the mid day meal workers.

Also Read: ABSU Decries Handing over Mid-day Meal Scheme to NGOs

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