Mangaluru: Midday meal workers from the district, under the aegis of CITU, will stage a protest against the premature retirement order issued by the government.

“The government should provide compensation and pension benefits to midday meal workers,” CITU district committee vice-president Vasanth Achari told media persons here on Thursday.

He said midday meal workers, working for the last 19 years, had been receiving meagre salaries. They had been preparing meals for children in order to ensure good attendance in government aided schools.

Those who have completed 60 years have been relieved from their duties on March 31, 2022. Their salaries for the month have not yet been released, Achari charged.

“The order should be revised to declare the date of retirement as April 10, 2022, so that they get their salaries. Also, the payment which was increased by Rs 1,000 as announced in the State Budget in March, should be provided to them,” he urged.

He pointed out that during their appointment in 2001-02, the retirement age was not mentioned. He said due to the government order, at least 12,000 midday meal workers in the state had been deprived of retirement benefits. Many midday meal workers are from financially poor families,  Dalit communities and daily wage labourers, he said.

The retired workers should be provided with a compensation of Rs 1,00,000, he said and added that opposing the government move, protests will be held in all district centres, including Mangaluru, on April 11. A state-level protest will be held in Bengaluru on April 18.

Midday Meal Workers’ Association district president Bhavya, honourary president Padmavathi Shetty, treasurer Rathnamala, general secretary Girija and member Jayashree were present at the press meet.