Mid Day Meal Workers come out on Streets

Patna, September 19:

The governments –whether Central or provincial- are paying less attention to education, especially primary education. It is manifesting through the attitude of governments towards mid-day-meal workers who are engaged in cooking food for students in primary and middle schools. In Bihar they are paid very law wages. They are not provided even minimum wage fixed by the government for an unskilled labour. This is such a province where a government is running in the name of good governance and now the Chief Minister Jitan Ram Majhi himself comes from dalit community. It may be mentioned that most of the mid-day-meal workers are from dalit and poor families. The mid-day-meal workers in Bihar get only Rs. 1000 per month, according to which per day wage is about 33 rupees. While per day minimum wage fixed by the government is Rs.188 for an unskilled labour. It is evident that the government itself trampling its own rules and in this respect the government may be termed as criminal. The tragedy is that they are paid only for 10 months, while they render their services for the whole year.  Not only this, they have to do many other works like sweeping, cleaning of drains, urinals and toilets with cooking. 

Along with the dark side of the story a ray of silver lining is also there. The wave of consciousness has grown among them and they formed their own organization, the instrument of struggle. They started organizing under they banner of Bihar Rajya Madhyanha Bhojan Karmi Sangh which is affiliated to central trade union the AIl India United Trade Union Centre. They resolved to lunch movement to press their various demands and planned to demonstrate before CM of Bihar. 

 On 19th September 2014 a huge procession decorated with flags and festoons was taken out from Gandhi Maidan. Thousands of mid day meal workers from different districts of the state participated in the procession. They were shouting thunderous slogs like provide mid day meal workers the status of government employees, provide minimum wage fixed by the government, make necessary the attendance register in schools for them, provide leave with wage, make free them from all the works except cooking food, stop disciplinary actions without asking show cause, stop cooking food by NGOs in urban areas. 

After reaching R- Block the huge procession was converted into a massive rally. Addressing  the huge gathering of mid day meal workers Pramod Kumar, President, Bihar Rajya Madhyanha Bhojan Karmi Sangh and Secretary, AIl India United Trade Union Centre, Bihar State Committee, “ In spite of all tall talks about growth and process both the governments- central and state- are implementing anti people and pro rich policies. The mid day meal workers have to intensify their struggle to achieve their demands. ” Among others Punit Ray, General Secretary, Bihar Rajya Madhyanha Bhojan Karmi Sangh, Dharmendra Kumar, Rampukar Vidyarthi, Umashankar Verma, Rupesh Kumar also addressed while Ashok Kumar Singh presided over the meeting. A seven member delegation submitted a memorandum to CM. In spite of heavy showers the participants were full of confidence of their unity and getting  resolved for higher form of struggle.