Noon meal workers stage ‘black dress’ agitation

With host of demands such as job permanency, timescale pay, pension to the tune of Rs 7,800 per month and increasing the gratuity to Rs 5 lakh per person, the noon meal workers commenced their indefinite strike from Monday.

Unlike their previous protests they stopped cooking food for students. Following their protests on Monday they were invited for talks with Social Welfare Minister V Saroja, but the talks failed as Minster did not approve any of their demands.

According to Tamil Nadu Nutritious Noon Meal Employees Association (TNNMEA), the talks were mere eyewash and as government did not understand their long term demands they decided to continue their strike and to protest with black dress.

As decided, they staged protest across the state with black dress. In the protest, the TNNMEA members demanded the government to implement their demands. “We will not withdraw the protests until the government assures them to implement their demands,” said Noorjahan, Secretary TNNMEA.

Alongside the protest, the Executive Council (EC) meeting of TNNMEA was also held in Chennai and in the meeting, it was decided to continue their ‘black dress’ protests, on Thursday.