Archive · 29 Jan 2026
Chhattisgarh mid-day meal cooks protest for higher wages
In Chhattisgarh, many women who cook meals for school children have been protesting for over a month.
They want their daily pay to increase from Rs 66 to Rs 340.
Sadly, two of the protesting cooks, Rukmani Sinha and Dulari Yadav, passed away while they were sick.
The government says their deaths were not directly caused by the protest.
The government has offered a small pay increase, but the protesters are not happy with it and continue to demand more.
The cooks are an important part of a government program that provides free hot meals to school children.
The protesters have been camping at a site in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, demanding better wages for their work.
Mid-day meal cooks in Chhattisgarh have been protesting for 31 days demanding a wage hike from Rs 66 to Rs 340.
Two women cooks, Rukmani Sinha and Dulari Yadav, died after their health deteriorated during the protest.
The government denied any direct link between the deaths and the protest, attributing the deaths to pre-existing health conditions.
The government offered a 25% honorarium increase, amounting to Rs 500 (around Rs 17 per day), but the protesters are not satisfied.
The protest is being led by the Chhattisgarh School Madhyanh Bhojan Rasoiya Sanyukta Sangh (CSMBRSS).
- Who
- Mid-day meal cooks, mostly women, in Chhattisgarh
- What
- Protest for higher wages and honorarium
- When
- Protest started on December 29, entered 31st day on January 28
- Where
- Tuta Dharna Sthala in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh
- Why
- Demanding a hike in their daily wages from Rs 66 to Rs 340
- Protest Duration
- 31 days
- Demand
- Hike in daily wages from Rs 66 to Rs 340
- Number of Protesters
- Thousands of mid-day meal cooks, mostly women
- Government Offer
- 25% honorarium increase, amounting to Rs 500 (around Rs 17 per day)
- Protest Location
- Tuta Dharna Sthala in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar
- Association
- Chhattisgarh School Madhyanh Bhojan Rasoiya Sanyukta Sangh (CSMBRSS)
- Deceased Protesters
- Rukmani Sinha and Dulari Yadav
- Government Statement
- Denied direct link between deaths and protest
Sources
Chhattisgarh mid-day meal workers’ protest enters 31st day; 2 women cooks die
Chhattisgarh Govt Denies Link After Midday Meal Union Alleges Deaths Of 2 Members
Amid agitation for better pay, 2 mid-day meal cooks die in Chhattisgarh
