Shillong: The All Jaintia Mid Day Meal Workers Union is demanding a massive pay raise. They want the government to hike monthly honorariums for cook-cum-helpers from Rs 900 to Rs 9,000. Workers warned they will pull the plug on the PM Poshan scheme across the Northeast if the Centre ignores them. The pay has not budged for over 20 years.
Union members met in Jowai on Saturday to solidify their stance. They have chased this raise since 2022. The group previously sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi via the late Governor Satya Pal Malik. They also handed petitions to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during recent Meghalaya visits.
Garo Hills workers are also fighting for change. The All Garo Hills Cook-cum-Helper Association recently threatened a total boycott of the program. Paul D. Sangma, president of the Garo Hills group, stated the current rate fails to cover basic costs. He noted, "The honorarium is insufficient to meet even basic living expenses."
Workers feel ignored. They claim the current pay ignores their daily sacrifices. Without a swift adjustment to Rs 9,000, the union says the program cannot continue in the region.
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