NONGSTOIN: The Cook cum Helper Union, West Khasi Hills has urged the State Government to hike their salary as the pay (Rs 1000 per month) remains the same since 2001.
Their wages have not been hiked since the day of the implementation of Mid-day meal in 2001.
A meeting was held at Ri Khasi Free morning school at Nongstoin, where the president, MUPSTA, Keneth Shadap was also present along with 100 members of the union.
After the meeting president of the Union, Peacefull Marwein said that the mid-day meal was implemented in 2001 but the salaries of the cook and helper still remain the same without any hike, adding “If we calculate the salaries every union worker gets only Rs.34 per day which is totally unacceptable.”
The work starts from 8 am till 3 pm without fail and the workers have no time to do any part time job, Marwein said. “We have been engaged in cooking in SSA schools for almost 15 to 16 years in the job but nothing changed and it is difficult to look after our children with a small salary and we request the State Government to look in to the matter as early as possible” she added. Shadap informed the mediapersons that he has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma urging him to provide help for the welfare of the cooks and helpers engaged in mid-day meal, and he also submitted the same to the Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of School Education & Literacy.
He said that the Ministry has replied saying that the matter will be solved within the State but nothing has been done till date.
