About 315 noon meal workers were arrested when they staged a demonstration on the district collectorate campus demanding time scale of pay, service regularisation, enhancement of per-child subsidy for noon meal by Rs.3, pension, and other government incentives applicable for regular employees.
The demonstrators expressed anguish over the continuance of their plight under the AIADMK regime, despite the introduction of the noon meal scheme by the party founder, late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.
They appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to fulfil the promise she made as the Opposition leader during the DMK regime to ensure the well-being of noon meal workers after assuming power.
District unit president of Tamil Nadu Noon Meal Employees’ Association S.Thangavel led the agitation. Those who were arrested were let off later in the day, police sources said.
