Meghalaya Cooks Demand Rs 9,000 Honorarium, Threaten to Halt PM Poshan

PM Poshan, launched by the central government to improve nutrition among children, adolescents and pregnant women, relies on local cooks to prepare meals in schools and community centres. In Meghalaya, the cooks and kitchen helpers who work under the scheme have raised a demand for an honorarium of Rs 9,000 each. They say that the amount would compensate for the long hours and the lack of formal recognition for their work. The cooks have threatened to stop preparing meals for the programme if the government does not meet their request. Officials have said they will review the demand and are in talks with the workers, but no decision has yet been announced.