SHILLONG: The Chief Minister Conrad Sangma assured the delegation of midday meal cooks-cum-helpers to discuss the enhancement of their honorarium with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Discussing the matter with the CM at his bungalow on Monday, the helpers and cooks requested the CM to consider enhancing their honorarium to Rs 5000 per month.
The delegation informed the CM that they worked from 8 AM till 5PM earning an honorarium of Rs 1000 only per month which is approximately Rs 30 only per day.
The delegation requested the CM to credit the monthly honorarium to the personal saving bank account of the cooks.
The delegation informed that the cooks and helpers were not paid for the whole year but only during the months when the school is open.
Referring to their children’s future, they requested the CM to recommend them to be members of Meghalaya Building & other Constructions Welfare Board or to cover them in any Health, Social and Pension scheme sponsored by the Government and ensure they can avail sick, maternity, paternity leaves.
Taking an initiative toward a clean environment, the cooks and helpers suggested the CM to give direction to the concerned authority to make use of the solar energy or the LPG in the midday meal kitchen in order to save trees.