Midday meal workers threaten to boycott polls

Members of the Puttur Taluk Midday Meal Workers’ Association warned of boycotting the Lok Sabha election if political parties shied from promising to hike the honorarium for midday meal workers.

The Association declared that a minimum of Rs 1,000 should be paid to midday meal workers engaged to cook meals for polling staff during the two days of election.

Association legal advisor and labour leader B M Bhat said, “The political parties should make their stand clear on increasing the honorarium for midday meal workers.”

‘No hike yet’

He said that the NDA government had, in the past five years, not hiked the honorarium for midday meal workers. “The previous state government had hiked the honorarium by Rs 500 on two occasions. The midday meal workers are paid a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500. How can they lead a dignified life when the prices of LPG and essential commodities have hit the ceiling?” he asked.

Puttur taluk Akshara Dasoha Workers’ Association President Rathna Kemmai and others were present.