Condemning the authority concerned for not fulfilling the demand to increase honorarium and other issues across the nation, the Joint Platform of Scheme Workers Manipur staged a protest at Irawat Bhavan in Imphal on Friday as a part of the nationwide movement.
The protest was attended by many ASHA workers of various PHCs, mid-day meal workers of government schools, anganwadi workers, helpers and mini workers.
During the protest, Mid-day Meal Workers Union Manipur president Y Indrani said that many states have increased the honorarium of scheme workers by earmarking some amount in their budget besides support from the Centre. However, in Manipur, the honorarium is still Rs 1,000 per month which is given only for 10 months.
"In the present day when prices of every essential commodity are skyrocketing, how can we survive with just Rs 1,000 for a month? This little amount is also given on time by the state government. Moreover, the honorarium of nine months is yet to be released for mid-day meal workers," said Indrani.
She appealed to the state government to increase the honorarium considering the woes faced by the workers to run their families.
AITUC Manipur general secretary L Sotinkumar said that the demand made by scheme workers to acknowledge their status as full fledged workers and increase honorarium to Rs 21,000 is genuine. The state government should earmark a separate budget for this group.
He also said that honorarium given to scheme workers is too meagre and not suitable with the present situation.