Meghalaya PM POSHAN Cooks Threaten Complete Withdrawal Over Honorarium

SHILLONG, OCT 9: Cook-cum-helpers under the PM POSHAN scheme in Meghalaya have decided to cook mid-day meals only once a week during October and November, warning of a complete withdrawal from the scheme if their demand for an increase in honorarium is not met.

The decision was announced by Gina Nengnong, president of the Union of Cook-cum-Helper PM POSHAN Meghalaya, at a public meeting in Shillong on Friday.

Nengnong said the cooks had been serving schoolchildren for nearly 20 years despite receiving only a nominal honorarium. She urged the Prime Minister and the Union Cabinet to recognise their contribution and improve their remuneration.

She said the cooks treated schoolchildren like their own children and performed their duties with dedication, but argued that describing their work as voluntary no longer reflected the daily responsibilities and challenges they faced.

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According to the union, cooks will prepare meals only once a week during October and November, while helping distribute rice to prevent it from spoiling. They plan to use the remaining days to pursue other daily-wage work to meet their financial needs, as the scheme provides payment for only 10 months.

Nengnong said the union would await a response from the Union Cabinet and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A general meeting is scheduled for the second week of February, when the union will decide its next course of action.

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She warned that if no positive response regarding an increase in honorarium is received, the union may announce a complete withdrawal from the scheme.