Himachal's Mid-Day Meal Workers Demand Full Pay, Better Conditions in State-Wide Protests

Thousands of mid-day meal workers across Himachal Pradesh hit the streets on Friday, October 30, demanding a crucial shift from their current 10-month wage spread over a year to a full 12 months' salary. Led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), these workers are pushing for better service conditions, including higher monthly pay, timely disbursements, and an end to policies that put their jobs at risk. The protests, which saw memorandums submitted to education authorities, highlight a growing frustration among the estimated 21,000 workers who form the backbone of a vital child nutrition program in the state's government schools. This isn't a new fight; workers have long alleged significant delays in receiving their meager honorarium, sometimes waiting up to three months. Beyond the demand for year-round pay, the union is also urging the state government to honor previous Himachal Pradesh High Court rulings supporting a 12-month salary and to scrap the '25-student condition' that often leads to job losses when school enrollment dips. These issues echo similar worker struggles seen across other Indian states, underscoring systemic challenges within the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, a program designed to ensure nutritional security for millions of children. With the Director of Education unavailable for an immediate meeting, the union plans to intensify discussions in the coming days, signaling that the current wave of agitation is far from over. Key demands like a monthly honorarium of Rs 7,000, comparable to neighboring Haryana, along with social security benefits such as gratuity and pension, remain central to their push for fair treatment and recognition as essential government employees. The outcome of these negotiations will not only impact the livelihoods of thousands of dedicated workers but also potentially influence similar movements nationwide.