Mid-day meal workers protest for ₹10,000 salary

Hundreds of midday meal program workers from various districts gathered outside the Director of School Education office here to protest the long pending payments and salary hikes promised by the Congress in its 2024 manifesto.

Organized by the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), hundreds of workers started chanting slogans, recalling the Congress’s promise of ₹ 10,000 a month salary.

AITUC midday meal workers protested outside the office of the Director of School Education in Hyderabad on Monday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

Female workers expressed their despair and said they continued to receive only £1,000 in wages, while their working hours and responsibilities had increased significantly. Several workers claimed that their salaries were due for 8 to 10 months.

“It is not a part-time job; we usually finish work around 3pm, but we cannot even return to farm work as wages are not paid. School principals insist on following the common diet menu, but workers are not paid anything,” said one protester.