Agartala , Jan 03, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Jan 03: A large group of women under the banner of Mid-Day Meal Cook cum Helper Welfare Committee organized a protest rally in the state capital on Friday, raising 10-point demands.

With over 11,130 mid-day meal cooks and helpers in Tripura, the committee presented a list of 10 demands aimed at improving their working conditions and financial stability.

Talking to the reporters, one of the workers’ said, “Frustration and sense of injustice towards us has reached the peak. This has compelled us to take to the streets. Our collective voice is a call for the state government and the concerned authorities to address our grievances and ensure fair treatment at the earliest”.

The key demands include setting a minimum salary of Rs 18,000 for mid-day meal workers, providing alternative employment opportunities for those affected by school closures under the State Education Department, introducing Provident Fund (PF) for mid-day meal workers, stopping the retrenchment of workers, and ensuring a payment of Rs 5 lakh upon retirement.

The protest march began from the front of Bodhjung School in the capital and made its way through various streets of Agartala ending in a deputation addressed to the Chief Minister.

The workers emphasized that their current salary and allowances are insufficient to support their families, especially with the rapidly increasing cost of living.

Bir Kumar Debbarma, the convenor of the organization's state committee, highlighted the disparity in wages compared to other states.

He pointed out that mid-day meal workers in Kerala and Pondicherry receive Rs 12,000, whereas those in Tripura are being unjustly deprived.