Mid-Day meal workers affliated to CITU submits seven-point Demand to Rohit Thakur

A delegation from the Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union, affiliated with the CITU Himachal Pradesh State Committee, met with the Honorable Education Minister, Mr. Rohit Thakur, to present a seven-point demand letter. The minister assured the delegation that their demands would be addressed promptly. The meeting, which included the union representatives, the minister, and the Director of Elementary Education, Mr. Ashish Kohli, lasted for an hour and a half and was described as highly positive. The delegation comprised CITU State President Vijender Mehra, Vice Presidents Jagat Ram and Balak Ram, Union President Inder Singh, General Secretary Himi Devi, along with Sudesh Kumar, Shanti Devi, Sandeep Kumar, Janki, Bimla, and Ram Prakash.

Union leaders, including Vijender Mehra, Jagat Ram, Inder Singh, and Himi Devi, highlighted the dire conditions faced by the 21,000 mid-day meal workers in the state. These workers receive a meager monthly salary of ₹4,500, which is frequently delayed for several months, making it challenging for them to sustain their livelihoods. Despite the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s rulings in 2019 and 2024, which directed the government to pay mid-day meal workers a 12-month salary instead of 10 months, the state government has not yet implemented the decision. Moreover, these workers are not granted any official leave throughout the year. When they need to take leave for emergencies, illnesses, or family obligations, they are required to arrange for and pay a replacement, costing between ₹500 to ₹700, while they themselves only receive ₹150, a fraction of their daily wage, for their work.

Additionally, despite written orders from the Director of Elementary Education, mid-day meal workers are often tasked with extra duties such as maintaining kitchen gardens, cutting shrubs, cleaning, and other activities without receiving any additional compensation.

The union leaders reiterated their demand for the immediate implementation of the High Court’s rulings from 2019 and 2024, which mandate a 12-month salary for mid-day meal workers. They called on the government to provide the financial benefits due to thousands of mid-day meal workers across the state. Furthermore, they requested that mid-day meal workers in schools slated for closure or merger be reassigned to nearby schools, just like other employees. The workers should receive their salaries on the first of every month, along with salary slips for transparency. They also requested at least 20 days of annual leave, similar to Anganwadi workers, and two sets of uniforms each year. The union demanded that mid-day meal workers not be tasked with cooking for polling parties during elections unless additional compensation is provided. Additionally, female mid-day meal workers should receive paid leave for festivals like Raksha Bandhan, Karva Chauth, and Bhai Dooj, similar to other female employees in the state. Finally, additional mid-day meal workers should be appointed in schools with growing student populations.