Mangaluru: With trade unions calling for a nationwide strike Thursday to demand the repeal of labour codes and protection of workers’ rights, midday meal services in govt schools are likely to be affected. Authorities have arranged for Mathru Samitis and school development and monitoring committees (SDMCs) to prepare meals for students.Jnanesh MP, executive officer of Akshara Dasoha in Dakshina Kannada, told TOI that hundreds of midday meal staff in the district decided to join the strike. “To avoid any disruptions, we have asked the Mathru Samitis and SDMCs to help cook and serve meals to students across all schools in the district. These are similar arrangements we do whenever there is an absence of midday meal staff at schools due to protests,” he said.
However, teachers in govt schools said not all SDMC and Mathru Samiti members came forward to help. “Most parents of our students are daily wage earners. They are unwilling to miss a day’s work to come to school. As a result, teachers often end up cooking and serving the meals ourselves,” they said.
