Workers Demand Issue Resolution Before Breakfast Scheme:
Midday meal workers from multiple districts staged a protest against the Chief Minister’s breakfast scheme, resorting to open cooking (“vanta varpu”) to exert pressure on authorities. They voiced their frustration over unresolved grievances, primarily focusing on the need for an increase in their honorarium due to their vital role in providing nutritious meals to schoolchildren.
Mithilamma, a spokesperson for the employees, emphasized that their honorarium had remained stagnant at Rs 1,000 for years, making it increasingly challenging to make ends meet, despite a government order (GO) in their favor. They also requested additional funds for procuring ration supplies to maintain nutritional standards while serving meals.
Facing overwork and understaffing, the workers struggled to meet the demands of preparing meals for thousands of students daily. They called on the authorities to hire more employees to ensure efficient program functioning. They insisted that the state government must address this issue before considering the breakfast scheme.
Many alleged that principals and teachers in various districts had given them a deadline to resolve the issues before the scheme’s implementation after Dasara.
The protesters hoped for support from various quarters, including TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy, who had expressed solidarity with the midday meal workers.
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