Mahapadav by Mid-day Meal Workers in Bihar
THOUSANDS of Rasoiyas from across Bihar gathered under the banner of the Bihar State Rasoiya (Midday Meal) Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti in Patna for a 2-day Mahapadav on 23-24 January with a 15-point charter of demands including government employee status for all Rasoiyas, Rs 18,000 honorarium, maternity and special monthly leave, EPF, ESI, pension and social security.
2.48 lakh school Rasoiyas in Bihar have been on an indefinite strike since 7 January 2019 under the banner of the Bihar State Midday Meal Rasoiya Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, a joint forum of the Bihar Rajya Vidyalaya Rasoiya Sangh (AICCTU), Bihar State Midday Meal Workers Union (CITU), Bihar Rajya Vidyalaya Rasoiya Sangh (AITUC), and Bihar Rajya Madhyahn Bhojan Karmachari Union (AIUTUC). The Mahapadav which began on the 17th day of the strike resonated with slogans raised by the Rasoiyas—‘Nitish Kumar Sharm Karo, Rasoiyon ko Samman Do’; ‘Full Pay for Full Work’; ‘Stop Flouting Minimum Wage Act, Implement Rs 18,000 Honorarium for Rasoiyas’; ’12 Sau mein Dum Nahin, 18 Hazaar se Kum Nahi’ (There is no strength in 1200, nothing less than 18000).
The Mahapadav and gherao of the Chief Minister was presided over by a 4-member Presidium comprising Bihar Rajya Vidyalaya Rasoiya Sangh State President Com. Saroj Chaube, Bihar State Midday Meal Workers Union State President Com. Vinod Kumar, Bihar Rajya Vidyalaya Rasoiya Sangh State Convener Dr Ramakant Akela, and Bihar Rajya Madhyanh Bhojan Karmachari Union State President Com. Anamika.
The Mahapadav was addressed by the above leaders as well as by leaders of central trade unions and State associations. The speakers accused the Nitish government of doing injustice and denying legitimate rights to the 2.5 lakh Rasoiyas of Bihar who are among the most oppressed sections of society and the strongest claimants for social justice, and told the government to stop hypocritical claims of ‘rule of law’ and ‘women empowerment’. They said that the law gives Rs 6109 minimum wages to Rasoiyas and other workers like them, but they are getting a mere Rs 1250 per month, and that too only for 10 months of the year. This is far below the minimum wage required for livelihood.
The speakers charged the Nitish government with flouting the Minimum Wages Act and demanded that the government should take the initiative to end this strike in the interest of lakhs of poor schoolchildren by implementing this law, giving Rasoiyas full pay for full work, respecting the labour of the Rasoiyas who come from dalit and very backward castes, and paying an honorarium of Rs 18,000 under the equal pay for equal work policy.
