Mid-day meal workers accuse govt of neglect as salaries remain unpaid

Amid the ongoing standoff between government employees’ unions and the state government over issues such as promised wages and regularisation, the Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union has also opened a front against the AAP-led state government.

At a meeting held in Rayya, Amritsar, state union leader Mamata Sharma criticised the government for failing to release the salaries of mid-day meal workers on time. She recalled that during the Sikhiya Kranti campaign, MLAs and cabinet ministers made promises, but those assurances have not translated into action.

“We are the ones who do most of the groundwork in schools, including cooking, cleaning and ensuring every child gets a nutritious and hygienic meal on time. But so far, our salaries have not been increased and even the meagre amount of Rs 3,000 per month is not paid on time. The salary for June has still not been released,” Sharma said. “Last month, the government borrowed crores to fill its coffers, but we haven’t seen a single rupee,” Sharma added.

Most mid-day meal workers are women from economically weaker sections of nearby villages. Many of them are the sole breadwinners for their families.

“Delays in salary payments are pushing these women into financial distress and debt,” she added. She said even cleaners and sanitation workers in government schools have not received their wages. Alleging the government of pushing the poor to the brink of debt, Sharma warned that if salaries for mid-day meal and sanitation workers are not released soon, demonstrations will be held at the block level.

Amritsar