Hyderabad: CITU activists staged a protest outside Minister Konda Surekha’s residence in Hanamkonda’s Ramnagar on Monday, opposing the proposal to hand over the midday meal scheme to the Akshaya Patra Foundation. The protesters demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision and warned of an intensified agitation if it was not reversed.
Chanting slogans, they alleged the move would harm thousands who depend on the scheme for their livelihood. A video of the protest went viral on social media.
Clash over Akshaya Patra’s role in Hanamkonda
Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO that provides midday meals in government schools across India, currently serves over 2 million children in about 17,000 schools. Hanumakonda education officials recently decided to assign the scheme to the foundation, a move earlier opposed by CITU district secretary Ragula Ramesh.
The protesters said midday meal workers had been serving students for over 20 years and should not be displaced. They demanded immediate clearance of eight months’ pending bills and resolution of workers’ grievances.
As some activists attempted to enter the minister’s house, Subedari police intervened, detaining them and shifting them to the station. Tension prevailed in the area.