Karnataka Minister Madhu Bangarappa Assures Support for Higher Minimum Wages for Midday Meal Workers
Bengaluru, August 20: Karnataka School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Thursday assured midday meal workers that he would support their demand for higher minimum wages and take their concerns to the Chief Minister, following a meeting with members of the Karnataka Akshara Dasoha Midday Meal Cooks’ Union.
The union members, who have been protesting at Freedom Park seeking fulfilment of several demands, including minimum wages and an increase in the lump-sum benefit provided to midday meal cooks, met Bangarappa at his Vidhana Soudha office.
Union president Honnappa Maremmanavar placed the workers’ demands before the minister, including payment of minimum wages and an increase in the lump-sum amount for midday meal cooks.
Bangarappa told the delegation that a Cabinet sub-committee had been constituted to examine revision of minimum wage rates and that he was a member of the panel. He said the government was aware of the problems faced by midday meal workers and assured them that he would explore all assistance possible within government rules.
The minister said the workers were part of the government’s system and played a role in taking care of schoolchildren. He assured the delegation that he would stand with them and, referring to himself as the son of former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, said he was ready to help them.
During the meeting, Bangarappa directed officials to submit an early comparative report detailing wages paid to midday meal workers in different states, the benefits provided to them, the lump-sum amounts contributed by the Union government and other state governments, and particularly the position in southern states.
He said the information collected by officials, along with the union’s demands, would be brought to the Chief Minister’s attention. Bangarappa also recalled that funds had been released in advance ahead of the previous Deepavali to enable the workers to celebrate the festival.
The minister asked the workers not to spend their earnings travelling long distances to stage protests and told them they could approach him directly with their grievances.
The delegation also requested that Gruha Lakshmi benefits be extended to all women working under the midday meal programme. Responding to the demand, Bangarappa said the state government’s five guarantee schemes had strengthened household finances and that he would raise the issue with the Chief Minister. He said the possibility of extending Gruha Lakshmi benefits to the workers would be examined.
Union secretary Kalpana V.G., treasurer Pushpalatha, members Nirmala from Ramanagara, Umadevi and Rajeshwari Patil, along with Education Department officials, were present at the meeting.
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