Bhubaneswar: The protest by Midday Meal (MDM) cooks in Odisha schools entered the second day on Tuesday in Bhubaneswar to press for pay hike and other demands.
The protesters, who gathered at Lower PMG in the capital city, claimed that they continue to be neglected and underpaid though they have been playing a key role in running the MDM scheme in the state.
They are demanding a substantial increase in their monthly remuneration, from the existing Rs 3,000 to Rs 13,860. The cooks also urged the government to issue formal appointment letters and identity cards to all cooks and helpers, which they believe will legitimise their employment and ensure job security.
The protesting cooks also sought steps to ensure that their monthly remuneration is disbursed on time. A memorandum detailing these demands has already been submitted to the Chief Minister, seeking immediate action.
Responding to the demands by cooks, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond said the government recently enhanced the monthly remuneration of ‘Pachikas’ from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. Therefore, it is not appropriate on their part to agitate again, he told reporters.
“Let them (cooks) continue their work. Government work will be disrupted if they launch agitations frequently,” the Minister said.
Notably, the Chief Minister’s Office in January this year announced a revision of the monthly honorarium for MDM cooks-cum-helpers (Pachakas/Pachikas) under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana, to Rs 3,000. The decision benefited around 1.12 lakh cooks across the state and added an annual financial burden of more than Rs 112 crore to the government, officials said.
These workers play an essential role in the PM Poshan programme, preparing and serving nutritious meals to around 42.45 lakh children enrolled in 50,618 primary and upper primary schools across the state.
In a similar development, primary school teachers have been staging a protest near the Assembly demanding fulfilment of their demands including pay hike.
They demanded upgradation of teacher posts to level-2 and provision of salary at Rs 35,400 with Rs 4,200 grade pay, and grant of regular service benefits along with pension.
The teachers from different parts of the state, under the banner of ‘Prathamika Shikshyak Mahasangha’, gathered in Bhubaneswar to join the protest. As a result, functioning of primary schools across the state has been affected.
The protesting teachers said that several other states in India have been paying salaries starting from ₹35,400 or above with a grade pay of ₹4,200 to primary teachers. However, Odisha remains at the bottom with just ₹2,200 as grade pay.
Minister Nityananda Gond said the government is always ready to hold discussions with the agitating teachers to resolve their issues.
Stressing that it is not possible to fulfil all their demands in one day, he said the teachers should come to the table for discussion. The government will definitely give importance to their demands, he said, appealing to the teachers to withdraw their stir and join duty for the interest of students.
