TNI Bureau: Massive protests erupted in Bhubaneswar as thousands of mid-day meal cooks and helpers in Odisha have taken to the streets, demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries. Their protest highlights the severe financial hardship they are facing to survive as they have not received wages for the past three months.

The All-Odisha Midday Meal Cook-cum-Helper Association is leading the protest, seeking not only payment of pending dues but also a hike in remuneration, implementation of equal pay for equal work, enhancement of the retirement age to 62 years and release of Rs 1 lakh death compensation announced by the previous Government.

The association has warned to intensify their agitation if their demands aren’t addressed soon. The Odisha government had previously announced a 50% hike in monthly remuneration, increasing it from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000.