Mid-day meal workers seek regularisation

Patiala, January 20

Mid-day meal workers on contract basis today held a protest over their demands to implement minimum wages and regularise their services.

The protesters decided to hold a march and gherao the CM’s residence. They planned to start the march from Nehru Park to the CM’s residence but the police did not allow them to cross the Fountain Chowk, which was barricaded.

The protesters, under the banner of Daily Wages and Contractual Employees’ Front, demanded implementation of the Contractual employees Welfare Act-2016 in letter and spirit.

The employees working in the education department, NRHM, SSA/RMSA, AIDS Control Society and ATMA scheme took part in the protest.

Parveen Sharma, a leader of the front, said, “Contractual mid-day meal workers, ASHAs and forest department staff are not getting minimum wages and incentives. Outsourcing work is unfair to employees and they should be recruited directly by the government.”

The protesters relented after the district officials offered to arrange their meeting with a newly formed Cabinet sub-committee under the chairmanship of Health Minister Brahm Mohindra. — TNS