More than three weeks into their strike, PM POSHAN workers continued their protest on Monday, demanding a ten-fold increase in their monthly honorarium from Rs 900 to Rs 9,000.
The workers, who have been on strike since September 1, held a silent sit-in protest, appealing to the Centre to intervene and address their long-pending demand.
Instead of raising slogans, the workers chose silence to highlight their concerns, saying that the current honorarium of Rs 900 a month is inadequate considering the work and responsibilities involved in implementing the PM POSHAN scheme.
However, the ongoing strike has also raised concerns over its impact on schoolchildren who depend on the scheme for their mid-day meals. With the workers staying away from duty, several schools are reportedly facing difficulties in providing meals to students regularly.
The situation has therefore left both the workers and students waiting for a resolution. While the workers continue to press for better remuneration, the disruption has brought renewed attention to the need for an early intervention to ensure that schoolchildren do not bear the brunt of the prolonged protest.
The workers are now looking towards the Centre to step in and consider their demand, as their silent sit-in continues.