THE Midday Meal Workers Union (CITU) organised on June 4 a state level convention of midday meal workers in Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall of Jalandhar (Punjab). Over 800 midday meal workers from every corner of the state participated in the convention that turned to be a big success. Harpal Kaur (Barnala), Charanjeet Kaur (Boparai) and Jasmel Kaur (Sangrur) jointly chaired the convention. Inaugurating the convention, Raghunath Singh, general secretary of the Punjab state unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, strongly condemned the central and the state governments for not implementing the recommendation of the 44th and 45th Indian labour conferences (ILC). He further said that the governments, which are not serious and sincere about notifying the recommendations of the ILC, have no more right to claim themselves as governments of the working class and other toiling people. He demanded that the central and the state governments immediately cover the midday meal and other scheme workers under the Minimum Wages Act and ensure social security to them by under the ESI Act, EPF Act and Gratuity Act etc. Addressing the convention, Jai Bhagwan, member of the All India Coordination Committee of the Midday Meal Workers, said that in the neighbouring Haryana the midday meal workers had forced the Haryana government to enhance their wage to Rs 1500 per month. In Karnataka and some other states also, they organised struggles and made some achievements. He said the government of India as well as the state governments want to privatise the scheme, and announced that on July 3 the midday meal workers all over the country were going to organise rallies, chhaka jam and other protest actions in support of their demands. He assured the midday meal workers of Punjab full support of the Coordination Committee and the union of midday meal workers in Haryana. Addressing the convention, Harpal Kaur, state convener of the Midday Meal Workers Union of Punjab, told that workers of Punjab would oppose the policy of privatisation of the scheme. She demanded that the supply of midday meal through private agencies should be stopped immediately in three cities of Punjab (Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar) and that food in government schools should be prepared in the very school premises as the food being supplied by private companies is far below the prescribed standard. The convention was also addressed by Sucha Singh Ajnala and Maha Singh Rori (former presidents of the PSSF), Gurnam Singh Ghanaur (general secretary, GCTU Punjab), Krishna Kumari (Anganwaru Mulazim Union, Punjab), Charanjeet Kaur Boprai, Jasmel Kaur (co-convener of the union), Parkash Chand Hissowal and Rajinder Kaur (Working Women Coordination Committee members), and Mohinder Kumar Badhoan (secretary of the Punjab state CITU). The speakers announced that they would make all-out efforts for the success of the July 3 rallies, demonstrations and other actions to be organised all over the state. Sher Singh Pharbahi thanked the participants and urged the midday meal workers to make the July 3 actions a unique success in the state. After the convention was over, midday meal workers took out a vigorous procession in Jalandhar city and raised resounding slogans in support of their demands. SAVE ICDS ACTION GETS UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE ON June 9, the Anganwari Mulazim Union of Punjab (affiliated to the CITU and the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers) organised Save the ICDS mass actions which got unprecedented response and registered success in the state.   To implement the decision which was taken in the joint meeting of representatives of unions of Anganwadi workers and helpers, Anganwadi supervisors, ministerial staff and officers association held in Bhakna Bhawan at Chandigarh on May 27, protest rallies and demonstrations were organised at over 60 places in subdivision centres. About 30,000 Anganwadi workers, helpers, supervisors, ministerial staff and officers took part in these actions, raising resounding slogans in support of their just and genuine demands, despite the scorching sun. Those who addressed the militant rallies of these sections at different places included Mrs Usha Rani (union president), Harjeet Kaur (general secretary), Mrs Subhash Rani (finance secretary), Krishna Kumari (general secretary, AIDWA), Dharamjeet  Kaur (chairperson, Anganwadi Mulazim Union Punjab), Saroj Chhapariwal (president, All India Anganwadi Workers & Helpers, Punjab),  Subhadran    Kumari and Surinder Kaur Rakar (president and general secretary of the Anganwadi  Supervisor Union), Suromakh Singh (president, ICDS Employees Ekta Union) and Satish Kumar (president,  ICDS Officers Association). These rallies were also addressed by state CITU president Vijay Misra, its general secretary Raghunath Singh, vice president Chander Shekhar and other state CITU leaders like Jatinder Pal Singh, Tarsem Jodhan, Mohinder Kumar Badhonan, Tarlochan Singh, Sucha Singh and Satpal  Bharti. The speakers demanded that the central and the state government must universalise and strengthen the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). They also demanded that the directorate of the ICDS should be separated from the directorate of social security department. They strongly condemned the centre and the state governments for reducing the allocation of funds and grants to the ICDS. They said that if the centre and the state governments were serious about fighting malnutrition effectively, allocation of funds for the ICDS must be increased substantially, ICDS should be converted into a government department under the ministry of HRD and the Anganwadi workers and helpers should be given the status and pay scales of grade III and grade IV government employees respectively and, until they are given the status of Government employees, they should be covered under the Minimum Wages Act. Salaries and honoraria of the employees, officers and Anganwadi workers and helpers must be kept in the non-plan head of the budget, buildings for all Anganwadi centres should be constructed and  facilities like safe drinking water, toilet, bathrooms  and toys must be provided. ICDS workers and officers should not be given any other job other than the ICDS work.