Haryana govt hikes midday meal cooks’ pay from Rs 3.5k to Rs 7k

GURGAON: Haryana govt this week decided to increase the salaries of midday meal cooks and helpers from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 per month, and diversify the menu to include parantha-curd and millets.

A steering and monitoring committee convened on Monday and chief secretary Sanjeev Kaushal approved Rs 658 crore to be released for the scheme. Of this budget, the state will contribute Rs 457.2 crore and the Centre will pay the remaining amount.

In effect, the central government’s share in the salary of one midday meal worker will remain steady at Rs 600. The state will pay the rest. “Despite the Centre’s share being only Rs 600, Haryana govt will pay MDM workers Rs 7,000. CM had asked officials to survey the meals distributed in other states to ensure that students here get protein-rich and nutritious food,” Kaushal said.

Currently, schools in the state serve students vegetable pulao, dal chawal and dalia, etc. Last year, the menu was expanded to include three servings of 200ml milk to each student every week. Now, the meals will also include parantha-curd, millet dishes and khichdi, officials said.

The scheme is being implemented across 14,253 schools, including 8,671 primary schools and 5,582 upper primary schools, in Haryana.

‘Pay minimum wages’

Midday meal workers said on Tuesday that they will participate in a rally on February 16. They want their monthly salaries to meet the minimum wage – Rs 26,000 – apart from regularisation of their jobs and retirement benefits, among others.

“Till last year, midday meal workers used to receive Rs 3,500 per month by Haryana govt, but only on paper. In fact, we did not receive salaries for more than five months in one go,” said Raj, Sirsa president of Midday Meal Workers Association.

According to official data, 30,000 people work as midday meal helpers or cooks in the state. Many workers in NCR cities such as Gurgaon and Faridabad are helpers as the meals are provided by ISKCON Food Relief Foundation.

None of the workers are hired as permanent employees, and they get salaries for ten months in a year as schools close for vacations. In the scheme, salaries are fixed at Rs 1,000 by the Centre but states are free to increase the amount, provided that it incurs the additional cost.

“Haryana government has stated closing and merging schools as well. This move is jeopardising our employment, ultimately depriving us of our livelihoods. Already, we don’t have any social security and retirement benefits. Public sector privileges are being eroded, particularly within the education system,” Raj said.


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