BRS backs mid-day meal workers’ protest in Hyderabad

BRS president Gellu Srinivas Yadav accused the Congress government of failing to deliver on its promise of Rs 10,000 monthly honorarium to Mid-Day Meal workers, demanded an increase to Rs 17,000, and opposed centralised kitchens, warning they threaten workers’ livelihoods.

Hyderabad: BRSV State president Gellu Srinivas Yadav on Sunday extended support to the ongoing protest by Mid-Day Meal workers, on behalf of the party. He charged the Congress government with failing to fulfil its election promise of paying each worker a monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000.

Addressing a protest led by Telangana State Government Schools Mid-Day Meal Cooking Workers’ union in Hyderabad on Sunday, Srinivas Yadav said the previous BRS government increased the workers’ honorarium to Rs 2,400, compared to the Centre’s contribution of Rs 600. 

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Alleging that the State government’s proposal to introduce centralised kitchens would jeopardise the livelihoods of thousands of workers, he said it was a move to gradually shut down Mid-Day Meal centres in government schools.

Demanding that the Centre and the State raise the workers’ honorarium to Rs 17,000, he questioned the government’s spending priorities, alleging that funds were being allocated for extravaganza projects while neglecting the welfare of Mid-Day Meal workers. He said the BRS would continue to support the workers until the government implemented the promised monthly honorarium.