The Udalguri unit of the All Assam Primary and Upper Primary Midday Meal Cook and Helpers’ Association, under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu), the CPI’s trade union, held a meet at Bordoloi Bhawan in Tangla town of the district on Sunday.

Over 400 midday meal workers from Khoirabari, Mazbat and Udalguri came together and vowed to intensify their protests if the education department doesn’t secure their jobs and increase their honorarium.

Addressing the gathering, Udalguri Citu secretary Nurul Amin said, “The government must reconsider the move and withdraw the NGOs that are unaware of the food habits and culture of Assam from service.”

“The midday meal workers have worked without a penny from 2005 to 2009. Only after 2009, they were paid Rs 1,000 for 10 months. Discontinuing their services will be inhumane and in violation of the natural principles of justice.”

On education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya’s claim that the jobs of midday meal workers are secure, the secretary of the All Assam Primary and Upper Primary Schools Midday Meal Cook and Helpers’ Association, Chitra Rajbonshi, said, “The fate of 1.19 lakh workers is uncertain. We cannot work on a meagre remuneration of Rs 1,000 per month. It should be increased to at least Rs 6,000. The minister should give us a written assurance.”

“All cooks and helpers will intensify their protests if the state doesn’t address our demands,” said Hanufa Begum, a midday meal worker.

According to the inspector of schools in Udalguri, Bhaben Deuri, there are nearly 40,000 students in 556 schools of the district that are being covered by the NGOs.