Pay Crisis: Himachal Mid-Day Meal Workers Hit Streets Over Wage Cuts
Mid-day meal workers in Himachal Pradesh protest against wage cuts and demand full 12-month salaries and better service conditions.
Thousands of mid-day meal workers across Himachal Pradesh have launched a series of intense protests, demanding that the state government stop the practice of stretching 10 months of wages across a full year. The demonstrations, organized by the Mid-Day Meal Workers Union affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), erupted across several blocks on Friday as workers fought against what they term as "gross injustice."
Battle Over the '10-Month' Salary
The core of the unrest lies in the government's method of salary distribution. Union leaders allege that the state has been distributing wages meant for only 10 months over a 12-month period. This accounting maneuver effectively reduces the monthly take-home pay for workers, leaving them with less money to sustain their families each month.
The union is now demanding that the state government adhere to the rulings of both the single and double benches of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. According to the protesters, the court has already ruled in their favor, stating that workers should be provided with a full 12 months of salary.
Protests Reach the Directorate of Education
In Shimla, the tension peaked as workers gathered for a demonstration outside the Directorate of Education. A high-level delegation, including CITU state president Vijender Mehra, state treasurer Jagat Ram, and union state general secretary Shanti Devi, attempted to meet with the Director of Education to submit a formal memorandum.
However, the Director was absent during the visit. Undeterred, the union has resolved to secure a meeting in the coming days to ensure their demands are heard and addressed by the administration.
A Hard Life Behind the Kitchens
The union highlighted the grueling reality faced by approximately 21,000 mid-day meal workers who feed children in government schools across the state. The workers' grievances extend far beyond just the monthly pay:
- Lack of Rest: Workers claim they are denied holidays throughout the entire year.
- Payment Delays: In some instances, workers are allegedly forced to wait up to three months to receive their wages.
- Job Insecurity: Current rules state that a school must have at least 25 children to employ a mid-day meal worker. The union argues that workers are frequently terminated the moment student numbers dip below this threshold.
- Unpaid Extra Labor: Protesters alleged they are tasked with preparing meals for polling personnel during elections without any additional remuneration.
- No Social Security: Upon retirement, these workers are reportedly left without any gratuity or pension benefits.
The Charter of Demands
The union has presented a comprehensive list of demands to the Education Department to improve the living and working conditions of the staff. Key demands include:
Financial Demands
- Implementation of 12 months' salary as per High Court decisions.
- A monthly honorarium of Rs 7,000, mirroring the pay scale in Haryana.
- Payment of the full monthly salary in a single installment by the first day of every month.
- Additional pay for preparing meals for election polling parties.
Service and Welfare Demands
- Removal of the "25-student" minimum requirement for employment.
- Provision of gratuity and pension benefits post-retirement.
- 20 days of annual leave, following the pattern set for Anganwadi workers.
- Full reimbursement of travel and expenses incurred during mandatory medical check-ups.
- A formal policy to regularize the services of all mid-day meal workers.
Furthermore, the union is pushing for the expansion of the mid-day meal scheme to include students up to Class 12, ensuring that older children in government schools also receive nutritional support.