Mid-day meal workers from various trade union organisations (Pachika of primary schools) held a demonstration in huge numbers at Bhubaneswar in front of the state Assembly demanding increase in wages from 1400 to 10,000 per month and other demands with a 16-points demands charter. AICCTU leaders Mahendra Parida and Tripati Gomango said that the movement for mid-day meal workers is being taken up earnestly by them in many districts of Odisha. These workers, mostly women, are the backbone of rural health infrastructure contributing immensely to the health and education of the children. Highly underpaid, without even being recognised as workers, their demands are genuine and the government must immediately come to terms with them and negotiate on their charter.
