Protests Against Privatization of Midday Meal Scheme in Godhra

In Godhra, representatives from the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and the PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Midday Meal Scheme Employees Union submitted a letter to the District Collector. They raised various demands, particularly opposing the privatization of the midday meal scheme. Since 1984, the PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme has been successfully implemented in Gujarat, making it one of the best-performing states in the country. However, recently, the central government has assigned the task of meal distribution to four private organizations outside the state. According to the employees, meals are prepared 40 to 50 kilometers away at night and delivered the next day for children. They claimed that this system is neither quality-controlled nor healthy. The employees emphasized that both the central and state governments should ensure that fresh meals are cooked on-site in schools. They also highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling that prioritizes cooks from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to promote social equality. The demands included an immediate halt to privatization, fair wages for cooks, recognition of ‘school assistants’, and equal pay for urban and rural cooks. Additionally, they requested compensation for accidental injuries and better health care provisions. The letter was submitted to the Deputy Collector, urging the government to address these pressing issues. The representatives insisted on swift action to ensure justice and uphold the welfare of those involved in the midday meal scheme.