Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Regularisation of services of midday meal workers sought

Special Correspondent

Government also urged to increase their honorarium

MANY DEMANDS: Women working under the Akshara Dasoha scheme staging a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Gulbarga on Thursday

GULBARGA: The Karnataka State Akshara Dasoha Bisi Oota Thayarakara Federation affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Thursday demanded that the State Government regularise the services of those working under the midday meal scheme in schools and pay them minimum wages regularly.

The members of the federation staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioners office. In a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh and submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, they urged the Government not to hand over the management of the midday meal scheme to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) as proposed and continue to manage the programme as a government scheme.

The memorandum said that at present the Government pays an honorarium ranging between Rs. 300 and Rs. 600 to the chief cook and assistant cook working under scheme.

The Government should increase the honorarium amount and fix a minimum wage. The Government should also extend benefits enjoyed by the government staff such as maternity leave to those working at the midday meal scheme centres, the memorandum said.

The honorarium amount should be paid before the fifth of every month and all workers should be brought under the group insurance scheme, be given provident fund and other facilities enjoyed by permanent government staff.

The protesters also demanded that the midday meal workers be given below poverty line cards and provided housing under the Ashraya scheme.

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