Shillong, Aug 29: The Cook and Workers working under the PM Poshan (MDM) programme, affiliated to All Jaiñtia Mid Day Meal Worker Union, Jowai (AJMDMWU) began their indefinite sit-in protest on Monday in Shillong due to the failure of the State government to respond to their long pending demands.

The mid-day meal workers, mostly women from different districts of Meghalaya, firstly assembled at the parking lot of the additional secretariat building but later the district administration shifted them to the premises of MBOSE office, Shillong.

The AJMDMWU has demanded that the government should enhance their monthly honorarium from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month. At present, the workers received Rs 900 from the central government and Rs 100 from the state government, making it a total of Rs 1000 per month.

Speaking to media persons, adviser of the mid day meal workers K.L. Pariat said they have been demanding for enhancement and to include December and January in the monthly honorarium since 2019 but till date the chief minister hasn’t called them for talks to discuss the demands.

“Till 11 August 2022, we have sent six letters as reminder to the chief minister to enhance the honorarium of the Cook cum Helper from Rs. 100 to Rs. 900 from the state share and also to include December and January in the honorarium but till date we have not received any response from the chief minister,” said Pariat.

He said the Cook cum Helper had also demanded from the state government to allot funds for cooking gas for preparing the mid day meals as till date none of the schools in Meghalaya have received LPG gas to prepare meals for the students.

He added that it is a shame for schools to teach and encourage students to save trees by planting more trees but in these same schools the meals are prepared using firewood and charcoal.