Cooks engaged by Odisha govt allege step-motherly treatment, submit memorandum to CM

The members of the Nuapada district cooks association on Friday submitted a memorandum to the district Collector addressed to the Chief Minister, drawing his attention to their various demands. 

They alleged even though they are working hard as cooks and workers, they are yet to get the status of government employees. They also alleged that their higher-ups are ignoring and neglecting them. Their other demands included the deduction of EPF and the withdrawal of arbitrary transfers.   They said they have taken up the issue on different platforms but received no success. 

“We are working round the clock. But we are yet to get the status of a government servant. We have already taken up our issues at different forums but to no avail. With no option left, today we submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the district Collector. Our demand is the status of a government servant or an increase of two times of our present salary,” said Bhairab Kumar Sahoo, president, Zilla Roseiya O Sebayat Sangha, Nuapada.

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Echoing the same, Jadumani Panigrahi, a member of the association said, “Over 400 cooks and sebayats are working at schools, hostels and sevashramas under the ST/SC Development Department in Nuapada district. They have been asked to be at schools for 24 hours. They are not allowed to be on leave. Their salaries haven’t been increased for a long time and no EPF is deducted from their salaries.”

(Reported By Kunal Behera)