Midday Meal: Cook, Helpers Protest in front of BTC Education Director

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Over one hundred cooks and helpers under the banner of BTC Cooks and Helpers’ Association staged protest in front of the Director of Education, BTC on Friday against the handing over of Midday Meal Scheme to NGOs. They shouted slogans against, what they say, the apathetic attitude towards the service of hundreds cook and helpers.

Talking to media, BTC Cooks and Helpers’ Association president Golapi Bharali said the jobs of cooks and helpers have become uncertain after the State Education Minister handed over the Midday Meal Scheme to some NGOs. She said they had been working with all sincerity for feeding school children, but the handing over of scheme to NGOs all of a sudden was a matter of surprise without valid reasons. She also said that they would continue to protest till the Government of Assam rolls back its decision.

Bharali said the Government of Assam should reconsider the handing over of Midday Meal Scheme to NGOs for the greater interest of hundreds of cooks and helpers who have been rendering their services. She demanded that the Government should ensure regularization of their jobs.

Meanwhile, protests are taking place in different other places as well. There are allegations that the services being rendered by NGOs are not satisfactory, and the quality of food items is low. There are allegations that the food for Midday Meal is prepared at a place in Kokrajhar but to reach remote places it takes a long time and becomes stale. Children are not eager to eat such food, it is alleged.

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