Mid-Day meal chefs demand hike in honorarium, pending dues

Ganderbal, Aug 11: Mid-Day Meal chefs mostly women staged a protest on Monday in Ganderbal district, demanding a substantial hike in their honorarium and immediate release of pending dues.The protesters alleged that they have been without salaries for the last two years, surviving on a meagre Rs 30 per day—amounting to just Rs 900 a month. “In times when other employees draw huge salaries, we are expected to run our families on Rs 30 a day. How can we survive on this?” questioned one of the agitating cooks. They said they perform their duties every day till 4 pm, yet their monthly honorarium remains extremely limited. The cooks claimed they have repeatedly taken up the matter with the government, but their “genuine demands” have gone unheard.Warning of continued agitation, one protester said they will not resume duties until their demands are addressed. Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Ganderbal assured the protesters that their pending salaries will be released within ten to fifteen days.