School Rasoiya Sangh Strike in Bihar
SCHOOL Rasoiyas (mid-day meal workers) have been carrying on a long struggle for increase in honorarium, government employee status, and Rs 18,000 monthly wages till such time as they are declared government employees. In 2015, after a long struggle, a high level committee was formed in Bihar led by Com. Ashok Chaudhary. The committee was to submit a report to the government on the situation of all contract and honorarium workers.
The committee was to have submitted its report in 3 months’ time but it was submitted after 4 years on 7 August and it was made public at the Republic Day function on 15 August. It is astounding that there is not a single mention of school rasoiyas in this entire 316-page report, whereas something or the other has been said about all other honorarium workers such as ASHA, Mamta, Anganbadi, Taleemi Markaj, Tola Sewak, Kasturba Gandhi school workers etc.
The State government has not only cheated school rasoiyas but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also betrayed them. ASHA incentive has been doubled and Anganbadi workers’ honorarium has been increased by 1 ½ times, but there is a deafening silence on rasoiyas. The government’s intention towards the mid-day meal scheme (of which the rasoiyas are the backbone) is not understandable. Nitish Kumar has said at the meeting of the Neeti Ayog that the mid-day meal scheme is lowering the quality of education; Central Minister Upendra Kushwaha says that money should be given instead of meals. The truth is that the enrolment of children in schools has increased and the drop-out rate has decreased due to this scheme.
The government has already handed over the mid-day meal scheme to private voluntary organizations in Banka, Katihar, Vaishali, Nalanda, Gaya, Shivhar, Jamui, Beguserai, Bhagalpur, Aurangabad, Rohtas and Kaimur municipality areas. At places where meals are being supplied by NGOs, rasoiyas are being paid a meagre Rs 600. When the School Rasoiya Sangh tried to register a complaint with the general administration department, they refused to entertain, saying they would accept it only if it came through the education department. An application has been submitted to the education department and to the Director of the mid-day meal scheme.
The effigy of Prime Minister Modi was burnt on 15-16 September to protest against this betrayal of the rasoiyas. Effigy burning programs were organized in Eastern Champaran, Siwan, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Munger, Jamui and Patna.
The Bihar State School Rasoiya Sangh has called for a 5-day state-wide hartal (strike) from 5-9 October. During this strike, Block, Zone and District level protests will be organized on 5-6 October. A mashal (torchlight) rally will be organized on 7 October and dharna protests will be held at Patna on 8-9 October.
