Mid-day meal workers’ Nabanna march blocked, protest over 5-point demands

Mid-day meal workers from across West Bengal gathered at Sealdah station on Tuesday to march towards Nabanna, the state secretariat, demanding implementation of their five-point charter. The march, organized by the Mid-Day Meal Joint Struggle Committee, saw hundreds of workers moving from S.N. Banerjee Road towards Dharmatala, raising slogans for salary regularization, bonuses, and recognition as government employees.

Police stopped the protestors near New Market police station by setting up barricades, preventing further movement towards Nabanna. Denied entry, the workers began a sit-in demonstration at the site, continuing their agitation. The protest was led by Ismat Ara, who said, “If a positive step is not taken within a week, we will intensify our movement with larger participation.”

The five-point demand list includes giving all mid-day meal workers a festival bonus and 12 months’ regular salary, recognition as government employees, minimum wages, post-retirement allowances, increased budget allocation for the centrally and state-run scheme, and appointment of three workers for every 25 students to reduce workload. Hundreds of workers participated, highlighting ongoing issues related to pay, staffing, and benefits under the mid-day meal program.