PM Poshan cooks stop cooking in Meghalaya schools, 22-day strike with no reply from Centre

By - Admin 22 Sep, 2026 Comments (0) 2 Mins Read

SHILLONG, SEPT 22: Cooks under the PM Poshan scheme in Meghalaya have been on an indefinite strike since September 1, demanding enhancement of their monthly honorarium from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000.

Speaking at a sit-in demonstration at Khyndailad on Tuesday, Union of Cook cum Helper PM Poshan Meghalaya president Gina Nengnong said they have been forced to stop cooking in schools after months of unanswered appeals.

“Through the All Jaintia Midday Meal Worker since 2019 we have sent letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding to enhance our honorarium,” Nengnong said.

She said the union was formally formed in 2023 and since then they have written repeatedly to the Prime Minister, Education Minister and Finance Minister.

The cooks’ honorarium is shared in a 90:10 ratio between Centre and State.

While the Centre’s share of Rs 900 has remained unchanged for 20 years, the state government hiked its share in 2022.

“10 percent from the State was enhanced in 2022 under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma from Rs 100 to Rs 1100 and now we get Rs 2000 per month,” Nengnong said.

“Regarding our agitation, from September 1st we have been on strike and we have not gone to cook meals in schools because through our letters for many months we have not got any reply, so on this we decided to strike from 1st and end till 30th September,” she said.

She said 22 days into the strike, there has been no response from the Centre.

“The agitation is to request the Prime Minister that if this scheme is to continue, our honorarium should be enhanced because the Rs 900 has remained the same for 20 years now,” she said.

“Regarding this honorarium of Rs 900 that we get, we can no longer manage because prices of commodities have risen, we demand to enhance it to Rs 9000 per month,” Nengnong added.

Warning of the impact on children, she said, “If he stops this scheme, it will be a loss for the children because this scheme has helped many children and poor families.”

“We request the Prime Minister to reply quickly to our demand,” she said.