Assam: AAMSU Burns Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya's Effigies in Kokrakhar

Kokrajhar, November 8, 2019:

The Kokrajhar district committee of the All Assam Minorities Students' Union (AAMSU) on Friday burned the effigies of Assam Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya's effigies as a mark of protest against the Government's move to shift mid-day meal responsibility to NGOs.

One of the protesters said that the AAMSU is staging similar protests across Assam. "Siddhartha Bhattacharya's game regarding the Education department cannot be ignored. In the schools, pungent-smelling mid-day meals are sent for 400 students, which can only be consumed by 20 students. We demand an end to the corruption in the name of mid-day meals".

"Some non-Assamese NGOs have been given the responsibility. What do they know about fooding in Assam? Local NGOs should be given these responsibilities. We demand that the Government immediately take these steps, or else the AAMSU will intensify the protests", the protester further piled on.

ALSO READ: Substance Abuse Among Northeast Men 20% Higher than Other States: JNU Report

It may be mentioned that midday meal workers have staged protest against the government’s move to grant the food scheme contract to as many as 15 NGOs, which came into effect from November 1.

The protesters took to the streets of Nagaon district in Assam and shouted slogans against the government. They also expressed grief over the move, in the fear of losing their jobs.

It may be mentioned here that protests have been on across Assam following the state government’s decision. On Thursday, enraged workers in Tinsukia came out with utensils in their hands.

Meanwhile, State Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya briefed the media that the move has been implemented throughout the country. He said that the mid-day meal workers will not lose their jobs. Earlier they used to prepare the food, serve it and clean- up the place. But now these workers will just have to serve the food to the school children and look after the kid.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.