By the Editor:
People who are busy and dedicated to their duties and responsibilities seldom have time for other inconsequential activities. Those who are educated and qualified are well aware of their rights and privileges and do not hesitate to bring them to the notice of their employers, be it public or private sector. If problems, however, persist due to negligence or otherwise they are ready to continue their fight unitedly until solution is arrived at. But for those who are engaged in lower level of employment, their skill and talent are often forgotten and taken for granted since they are illiterate or semi-literate. However, they deserve to be paid due respect and attention by authorities concerned and they should receive basic human amenities meant for them and so they are to be treated with dignity and respect. Among these categories of workers are mostly women who are engaged in preparation of simple and nutritious meals for school children under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana, that is, Prime Minister Mid-Day Scheme and their performance is considered to be lowly and insignificant.
The All Jaintia Mid-Day Meal Worker Union organised peaceful hunger strike from 9 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, May 31 at Nongthymmai Sports Ground, Shillong in which hundreds of cooks-cum-helpers from the two districts of East and West Jaintia Hills participated demanding release of pending honorarium for the last five months since end of 2021. The union has demanded increase in honorarium from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 and to also include 12 months from existing 10 months for the whole year period. After meeting Dr B D R Tiwari, Commissioner and Secretary, Education they were assured that pending amount will be released and as per norm to be deposited in respective bank accounts at Laskein and Thadlaskein. The union also insisted that monthly honorarium be regularly paid within 10th of every month. Since 2019 cooks have brought to notice of government that firewood has been used all along while government’s policy is preservation of trees. They, therefore, reiterated that authorities are to arrange for smokeless and hygienic LPG cylinders, which is the best alternative. Cooks have also demanded that they are to be included in old-age pension scheme and to be registered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) benefits for ration purpose. These sincere and silent workers who are indirectly involved in general welfare of young and growing children are to be not ignored at all. Balanced and nutritious diet as per government guidelines and instructions after due research conducted by health experts has really benefited school children not only for healthy growth but most importantly for mental health and intellectual development right from early stages.
It is therefore right and proper to bear in mind that employees, no matter to what categories they belong, have their role to perform in building society and the nation and therefore they should be respected. Government functionaries are to take note of this and need not wait at all till situation flares up and unnecessarily causes public inconvenience.