Midday Meal Workers Continue Protests against NGOs

The midday meal workers have continued their protests against the distribution of midday meals in the schools by NGOs. The government of Assam has handed over the midday meal scheme to NGOs which has come into effect from November 1.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with 15 NGOs in the state for setting up a centralized kitchen for providing midday meals to the students.

As per theagreement, the NGO provides the midday meal at Kordoiguri Primary School inGolaghat after which chaos erupts amongst the workers and the parents.

The parentsalleged that there are 54 students in the school but the food that has beenprovided by the NGO has not even sufficient for 10 students. They also allegedthat the foods are cold as they cooked the food at night itself and served thestudents in the morning.

On the otherhand, police are seen monitoring the situation at Routa Chariali in Orang asthe midday meal workers have staged protests against the NGO.

Although thegovernment makes it clear that the workers will not lose their jobs as it hasbeen mentioned in the agreement that the NGO will include the entire cook cumhelpers of midday meal scheme should be included in their work and that theyshould get the existing amount of Rs. 1000 per month.  

The previous workers have not accepted the agreement and demanded that the same should be withdrawn or else they will go for massive protests. The agreement has come into effect from 01.11.2019 to 31.12.2021 and will be renewed every year based on the performance of the NGOs.