Members of the Tripura Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union, affiliated to CITU, submitted a deputation to the authorities of Education department and staged a protest in front of Shiksha Bhavan in Agartala on Wednesday, raising several demands, including payment of pending salaries, recruitment of new workers and an increase in remuneration.
The union workers and supporters staged a protest in front of the Education Bhavan before submitting a memorandum to the authorities.
During the deputation, the organization highlighted three major demands. The union alleged that mid-day meal workers have not received their salaries for the past four consecutive months. They further claimed that due to the absence of fresh recruitment for a long period, existing workers are being forced to handle an increased workload.
The workers also alleged that their remuneration is extremely low compared to the responsibilities they perform and that delayed salary payments have pushed many families into severe financial difficulties.
The union leaders claimed that mid-day meal workers are required to perform additional duties during occasions like Durga Puja, but they are not receiving adequate wages or benefits in return. They also alleged that several facilities and benefits available during the previous Left Front government have either been discontinued or reduced at present.
During the programme, the union leadership strongly criticized the policies of the present BJP-led government, alleging that workers in various sectors are being deprived of their rights. They also alleged that employees and supporters associated with the CPI (M) are facing discrimination in different areas due to political reasons. However, these allegations were made by the organization, and the government’s response is awaited.
The mid-day meal workers stated that they have been performing the important responsibility of cooking and serving meals to schoolchildren for years. They questioned how their families could survive if their own salaries remained unpaid for months.
The union demanded immediate release of the four months’ pending wages, recruitment of additional mid-day meal workers as per requirement, and ensuring proper remuneration and other benefits for workers.
The organization warned that if their demands are not fulfilled, they would launch a larger movement in the coming days.