Midday Meal Cooks Continue 47-Day Strike in Chhattisgarh, Demand Fair Honorarium and Job Security

Raipur — Hundreds of midday meal cooks across Chhattisgarh have been on strike for the past 47 days, demanding an increase in their monthly honorarium and improved job security. The protest, which began on December 29, has drawn attention to the financial struggles faced by workers responsible for preparing meals for schoolchildren under the government’s flagship nutrition scheme.

📌 Key Demands

The protesting cooks, engaged under the Centre’s PM Poshan Scheme (formerly the Midday Meal Scheme), are demanding:

• An increase in their monthly honorarium from ₹2,000 to a more sustainable amount

• Regularisation of their services

• Social security benefits such as pension and insurance

• Payment that covers at least their basic daily expenses

Workers say the current honorarium of ₹2,000 per month is insufficient to meet rising living costs, especially amid inflation.

🗣 Voices from the Protest

Protesters have gathered in district headquarters and in Raipur, holding placards and raising slogans for fair wages. Many of the cooks, mostly women from economically weaker sections, say they work several hours daily preparing meals for students but are paid less than minimum wage standards.

“We cook for hundreds of children every day, but we cannot afford proper meals for our own families,” one protester said.

🍛 Impact on Schools

The ongoing strike has disrupted meal services in several government schools. In some areas, local authorities have made temporary arrangements to ensure that students continue to receive meals, while in others, attendance has reportedly been affected.

The midday meal programme is a crucial welfare initiative aimed at improving nutrition levels and school attendance among children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

⚖️ Government Response

State officials have acknowledged the protest and indicated that discussions are underway. However, no formal announcement regarding an honorarium hike has been made so far.

Authorities have appealed to the cooks to resume work while talks continue, but unions representing the workers insist that the protest will continue until concrete assurances are given.

📊 Larger Issue

The protest has highlighted broader concerns about the status of scheme-based workers across India, including Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers, who often receive fixed honorariums rather than regular salaries.

Labour rights groups argue that such workers form the backbone of welfare schemes but lack adequate financial security and employment protections.

🔎 What Next?

With the strike entering its seventh week, pressure is mounting on the state government to reach a resolution. Union leaders have warned of intensifying protests if their demands are not addressed soon.

The coming days are likely to be crucial in determining whether negotiations yield a breakthrough or the agitation escalates further.