In Odisha, primary school teachers have now turned cooks as the All Odisha Pachika Mahasangha continues its indefinite strike seeking fulfilment of various demands.

The Pachika Mahasangha is a body of women cooks who prepare food for students under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme.

In Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts, teachers were found to cook food in the absence of the cooks. In some places, the teachers even hired village women paying the Rs 300 per head to cook food.

Students in many schools alleged that their studies have been severely affected as the teachers are preoccupied with food cooking.

“A few days ago, our teachers had joined a strike seeking their salary hike and fulfilment of some other demands. Our studies were then seriously hampered. Now, after rejoining their duty after the strike was called off, the teachers have turned cooks. We request the government to take necessary steps so that studies in schools will resume,” said a student.

“The government must take immediate steps to see that an alternative arrangement is made and the teachers get full time to teach the students,” said Dr Gourang Charan Rout, an educationist.

The midday meal workers have been demanding an increase in their salary, maternity leave, two pairs of sarees per year and social security along with several other benefits. They have threatened to vote ‘NOTA’ (None of the above) in the elections if the government does not fulfil their demands.

The cooks demanded Rs 26,000-salary per month, no disengagement of cook-cum-helpers from schools having less than 25 students, 10 days of casual leave and medical leave, EPF and ESI coverage and pension of Rs 3,000 per month after retirement.