Mid-day meal workers’ union to protest against govt on Jan 12

The Mid-Day Meal Workers Union Punjab announced state-wide protest demonstrations on January 12, accusing the state government of failing to fulfil promises made to them. At a meeting held at Company Bagh, led by state general secretary and district head Mamata Sharma, the union criticised the government for allegedly backtracking on its pledge to double the honorarium for mid-day meal workers.

Mamata Sharma pointed out that the current honorarium of Rs 3,000 per month is insufficient to sustain families, and even this amount has not been paid for December due to an ongoing strike by mid-day meal office employees, now in its 32nd day. “The Aam Aadmi Party promised to double the honorarium before coming to power, but that promise remains unfulfilled. The workers are now left with no choice but to intensify their protests. On January 11 and 12, during Lohri, we will burn effigies of the state government across the state to voice our resentment,” she said.

Several workers echoed their frustration, stating that their festivals last year were spent protesting. “We have been demanding a wage hike for two years, but our appeals have gone unanswered. Despite this, we continue to perform our duties, understanding the importance of our role in schools. However, we also need to earn enough to support our families,” said Rajwinder Kaur Jethuwal, another worker.

The union warned that the government’s inaction is fostering growing resentment among workers. They urged the authorities to address their demands urgently to avoid further unrest.