The Assam government on Tuesday announced a hike in wage for midday meal workers to Rs 1,500 a month, from the current Rs 1,000.
Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while addressing a press conference in Dispur said the state government will add additional Rs. 500 to the existing salary of the mid-day meal workers.
The revised wages will be paid to both the cook and the helper. The new wages will come into effect from April 1, the minister said.
He said the increased wages for the period of April to October will be deposited to the bank accounts of the workers before the Durga Puja.
The midday meals are served to nearly 10 crore children in 13 lakh aided and government schools in the country every school day.
In Assam there are 1, 18,998 mid-day meal workers.
Sarma said the finance department has already approved the fund of Rs. 34 crore and 20 lakh for their wages.
An annual cost of Rs. 60 crore has been earmarked for the initiative, he added.