Meghalaya’s midday meal workers union bang plates in protest for unpaid dues

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 6, 2023

Clad in a Jainkyrshah a traditional dress of the Khasi Pnar community, Kong Joy Lipon banged the spoon against the plate she brought from her home as hard as she could to centre out her despair for non receipt of honorariums for the past six months.

Kong Lipon rendered her selfless service as a cook for preparation of mid day meals for students in one of the Government schools in West Jaintia Hills District.

Kong Lipon is the general secretary of the All Jaintia Midday Meal Workers Union (AJMDMWU) and she and hundred other members of the union protested at the premises of the District School Education Office, West Jaintia Hills District in Jowai Town on Thursday.

Notably, the protest was organised by the All Jaintia Midday Meal Workers Union and Union of Cooks cum Helpers PM Poshan Meghalaya.

When Kong Lipon and several others initially started their service their honorarium was a mere Rs.1000 per month and they received an honorarium for ten months only as decided by the Central Government.

The honorarium was increased to Rs. 2000 per month after long years of battles, but the ultimately battle which compelled the Meghalaya Govt to fulfill their demand was when Kong Lipon and other hundreds of cooks staged a sleepover in the open air of Shillong for few days and nights last year.

Kong Lipon, Union President J Suting, Union Advisor Khroo Pariat took up their grievances with DSEO A Syiem but to no yield as she had no concrete solution to offer them.

The union’s members peeved with no assurance of receiving their honorariums in the next few days banged their plates with the spoons as hard as they can.

The sound of the banging plates reminded all gathered there of the Corona Days when Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the citizens of India to banged the plates with spoons or any object as a clarion call for the fight against Corona.

Addressing the media persons after meeting the DSEO, Suting said, “We will wait till October 13, next for the Government to clear our six months honorariums and if the Government fails to meet our expectations then we will hit the street of Shillong once again to fight for our rights.”

Suting also called upon the Central Government to increase their share for their honorariums as currently out of Rs. 2000 per month only Rs.900 is from Central Government while remaining amount of Rs.1100 is bear by the State Government.

The Midday Meal Workers also organized the agitation in the capital city, Shillong and Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills District.