Mid-day meal workers across Tarn Taran district observed a one-day strike on Wednesday, disrupting the provision of meals for government school students on the first day after summer vacation. The workers, led by the district unit of the Punjab Mid-Day Workers Union, staged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex (DAC) demanding higher wages and better benefits.
Protest and Demands
Union leaders, including district president Ranjit Kaur Patti, Rajwant Kaur Marhana, Paramjit Kaur, Jasmine Kaur Bhikhiwind, Gurmeet Kaur Valtoha, and Rajwinder Kaur Gandiwind, addressed the gathering. They demanded that workers be brought under the regular wage system and paid a monthly salary of Rs 25,000, instead of the current honorarium of Rs 3,000. According to the union, the honorarium has remained unchanged for years, despite rising costs of living.
Additional Benefits Sought
The protesters also demanded two uniforms annually, free insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, and additional remuneration for extra duties assigned to them. The speakers alleged that leaders of the present Punjab Government had promised to increase their remuneration before the Assembly elections but claimed that no revision had been made even after four and a half years in office.
Support from Other Organisations
Representatives of other mass organisations, including Dharam Singh Patti and Nirmal Singh Mardi Gaursingh, also addressed the gathering and expressed support for the workers’ demands. The strike highlights the ongoing grievances of mid-day meal workers in Punjab, who play a crucial role in the state's school nutrition programme.
