Midday-meal workers to lose jobs?

PRODDATUR: Mid-day meal scheme workers, who were happy following sanctioning of school kitchens, which would finally end their cooking in open spaces and under unhygienic conditions are now a worried lot.The reason for their worry is International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which has taken over management of mid-day meals programme in schools of Tirupati and adjoining mandals, has now come forward to take over mid-day meals programme in Proddatur and other parts of district.The mid-day meals workers, who have been working for past eight years, solely depend on it for their livelihood, are now worried about their future, if government decides to take up ISKCON’s offer. Already, the organisation has taken over management of midday meals in Kadapa, despite severe protests.The civic administration had gone ahead with its decision, despite objection from people’s organisations, as ISKCON had given assurance to provide alternate jobs for workers displaced by their taking over.But only a few were taken as ayahs in school, while remaining were rendered jobless. Now, with ISKCON coming forward to take over midday meals programme in 65 municipal, government and aided schools under purview of Proddatur municipality, agencies and workers engaged for programme are losing sleep.In all 300 workers are engaged in task. Even though, sanction of bills get delayed from state government, they are managing the programme and had even taken loans to run the programme successfully, thinking it to be their own. Recently, even the government had increased mess charges and had begun paying monthly salaries of Rs 1,000 to mid-day meal workers.