No money to hike salary of mid-day meal cooks: Kyrmen

SHILLONG, June 6: Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla on Monday said it would not be possible for the state government to enhance the honorarium (salary) of mid-day meal cooks from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month, as demanded by the All Jaintia Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union.
“We would have been more than happy to enhance their honorarium but we have to look at the financial position of the state since a huge amount of fund will be required to enhance their honorarium,” Shylla said.
Stating that they cannot take a decision which puts the government in a difficult situation, he said, “We do not want the mid-day meal workers to suffer. But they should understand the financial position of the government.”
Shylla however agreed to pursue the matter with Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma.