Cooks in Aishmuqam zone demand pay hike, MLA Altaf Kaloo assures action
Anantnag: Voicing strong resentment over low wages, cooks working in government schools under the Education Department in Aishmuqam zone on Saturday pressed for an immediate hike in their honorarium, saying the current pay is inadequate to sustain their families amid rising inflation.
The cooks raised their concerns and later they met local MLA Altaf Kaloo, urging him to intervene and take up their long-pending demand with the authorities.
“These jobs are not easy. We prepare meals for hundreds of students every day, ensuring hygiene and quality, yet the compensation we receive does not match the effort we put in,” said a cook from the zone. “With prices of essential commodities increasing steadily, it has become extremely difficult to manage household expenses.”
Another worker said that many cooks have been serving for years without any significant revision in wages. “We are part of an important government scheme that ensures nutrition for school children, but unfortunately, our own well-being is being overlooked. We request the government to recognize our contribution and increase our honorarium,” she said.
The cooks also pointed to the lack of additional benefits, including job security and social welfare measures, stating that their role remains largely unrecognized despite being crucial to the functioning of schools.
Responding to their grievances, MLA Altaf Kaloo assured them that their concerns would be taken up on priority with the concerned authorities.
He said the issue would be raised with Education Minister Sakina Itoo within the next two days.
“The demand of these cooks is genuine and deserves serious consideration. I will personally take up the matter with the Minister for Education to ensure that their grievances are addressed at the earliest,” Kaloo said, adding that improving their working conditions is essential for strengthening the education system.
After assurance from MLA, Cooks said that they hope the government will take concrete steps to revise their wages and acknowledge their contribution. “We have been waiting for a long time. We hope this time our voices will be heard and justice will be done,” one of them said.
