Mid-day meal workers are yearning for their honorarium for the last three months

While the entire country is busy preparing for the Independence Day celebrations on August 15th, approximately 3,200 mid-day meal workers employed in government schools in Shimla district are facing financial hardship due to non-payment of their honorarium for the past three months. The delay in payment of their honorarium has caused widespread anger among the workers, who have demanded the government release the outstanding amount soon.
Mid Day Meal Association President Preeti Thakur, Rajlila, Anil Verma, Janaki Devi, Sulakshana, and Yojana said in a joint statement that the families of many employees in the district depend on this honorarium for their livelihood. They said that the employees who prepare meals for children in schools every day and serve them with love are themselves facing financial crisis. Due to not receiving their honorarium for three consecutive months, they have faced problems in running their families, educating their children, and meeting their daily needs.
Preeti Thakur explained that mid-day meal workers are paid a mere ₹5,500 per month, which is already extremely low. Despite this, the lack of timely payments is further exacerbating the workers’ hardship.
He warned that if the government doesn’t release their honorariums promptly, the employees will be forced to resort to agitation. He said that the employees have been patient for a long time, but now their financial situation has become so weak that it’s difficult to survive without their salaries.
The union president alleged that mid-day meal workers are being continuously exploited by the government. She said that while the workers’ primary job is to prepare meals for children in schools and manage kitchens, they are now being burdened with additional responsibilities. According to her, the government has recently assigned mid-day meal workers tasks like cleaning school water tanks and kitchen gardening, without providing any additional honorarium or benefits.