Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met with a group of protesting cook-cum-helpers on Saturday to discuss their longstanding requests for better pay. The workers, who operate under the PM POSHAN Scheme, gathered outside the Courtyard by Marriott in Shillong to voice their concerns to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was visiting the hotel.
Represented by the Union of Cook-cum-Helpers under the PM POSHAN Scheme in Meghalaya, the protesters are calling for a significant hike in their monthly honorarium. The group argues that the current payment of 900 rupees has stayed stagnant for over twenty years, failing to account for decades of inflation and rising costs of living. They are now urging the central government to raise this contribution to 9,000 rupees.
Gena Nengnong, president of the union, stated that the organization expects the central government to address the concerns of thousands of cook-cum-helpers engaged under the PM POSHAN Scheme across the state. The workers emphasize that their daily labor is essential for providing nutritious meals to students, which supports the overall well-being of the next generation.
During the interaction, Chief Minister Sangma listened to the grievances of the demonstrators. He offered his assurance that their demands would be given due consideration by his administration.
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