Bandipora, Apr 7 (KNS) : Midday meal cooks working under the School Education Department (SED) on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Bandipora, accusing the government of neglecting their long-pending demands, including implementation of minimum wages and a clear regularisation policy.

 

The protesting cooks, hailing from Bandipora and Quil Zones, raised slogans and expressed strong resentment over what they termed as “meagre and unjust” honorarium. They said that despite serving for decades and playing a crucial role in government schools, they continue to receive a monthly payment of only Rs 900.

 

President of the association, Haneefa, while addressing the protesters, said that the cooks have been working tirelessly under difficult conditions but their services remain unrecognised.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“We are being paid a paltry amount which is not even sufficient to meet basic needs. We demand immediate enhancement of our salary and a proper regularisation policy,” she said.

 

The protesters further stated that their repeated appeals to the authorities have yielded no concrete results, forcing them to take to the streets. They warned that if their demands are not addressed at the earliest, they would intensify their agitation in the coming days.

 

The demonstration concluded peacefully, with the protesters urging the administration to intervene and ensure justice for the aggrieved workers. (KNS)