Hundreds of mid-day meal cooks and helpers across Odisha have intensified their protest as the agitation entered its fourth day on Friday. Organised by the All Odisha Mid-Day Meal Cook-cum-Helper Association, the workers are staging a continuous dharna at Lower PMG Square, with many spending nights on pavements to press for their long-pending demands.

Voices of ‘Kitchen Warriors’ Grow Louder
These women, who prepare daily meals for lakhs of schoolchildren under the PM POSHAN scheme, are now drawing attention to their own hardships. Despite being a crucial part of the education system, they say their financial conditions remain dire due to low wages and irregular payments.

“We are struggling to manage our households without regular income. Despite working continuously, our dues have not been cleared,” said protesting worker Anjali Swain.

Key Demands of the Protesters
The agitators have put forward a series of demands, including:

• Increase in monthly honorarium from ₹3,000
• Immediate clearance of three months’ pending wages
• Implementation of equal pay for equal work
• Enhancement of retirement age to 62 years
• Reinstatement of dismissed workers
• Timely salary disbursement within the first week of every month
• ₹1 lakh ex-gratia for families of deceased workers

Impact on Schools and Meal Services
With over 1.12 lakh cooks-cum-helpers engaged across the state, the ongoing protest has disrupted the mid-day meal system. Several schools have been forced to arrange alternative cooking mechanisms to ensure that students continue receiving meals.

Government Response Awaited
The School and Mass Education Department Odisha has acknowledged the situation, stating that the demands are currently under examination. However, no concrete assurances have been made so far.

Protesters Vow to Continue Stir
Undeterred by the lack of immediate response, the workers have pledged to continue their peaceful agitation until their demands are fully addressed. The protest has once again highlighted the plight of these “kitchen warriors,” whose contribution to child nutrition remains indispensable, yet often overlooked.