The Karnataka government has come under fire for failing to pay the salaries of 49,855 kitchen staff responsible for preparing and serving midday meals to school children across the state. Many of these workers have not received their honorarium for at least two months, while staff in certain districts have not been paid since June and July 2024. The delay is said to be caused by a lack of funding, with little indication that the issue will be resolved soon.
The problem came to light during a meeting held on October 23, 2024, which addressed various issues faced by the kitchen staff, known as Bisi Oota makers under the state’s midday meal scheme. The meeting revealed that despite continuous service during the peak drought months of April and May 2024, the kitchen staff have yet to receive their payments. The non-payment of salaries has not only led to financial difficulties for the workers but has also raised questions about the government’s commitment to welfare schemes.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has also been criticised, particularly for his failure to address salary issues affecting over a thousand kitchen staff in six taluks, including his own constituency of Kanakapura. The delays stem from a lack of funds, with government departments struggling to release payments on time, according to the media reports.
The Karnataka government was expected to release a total grant of Rs 12.16 crores as part of the honorarium payments, with the funding shared on a 60:40 ratio between the central and state governments. The central government was to contribute Rs 7.29 crores, while the state government’s share was Rs 4.86 crores. However, despite two proposals being submitted to the central government in April and August 2024, the funds have yet to be released. This delay has left the Bisi Oota makers in dire financial straits, struggling to make ends meet.
According to officials, a technical issue involving PAN and Aadhaar card linkages with bank accounts has also contributed to the non-payments of salaries for June 2024. However, the issue has extended far beyond technical glitches, with the lack of funding emerging as a major barrier.
Even in July, kitchen staff across various districts – totalling 1,158, including 661 from Kanakapura alone reported unpaid salaries. Other affected areas include KR Pet (148 workers), Maddur (26 workers), Mandya (151 workers), Chittapur (107 workers) and Surpur (65 workers).
The situation has only worsened in recent months, as no funds have been released for the months of August, September and October 2024. Even the first instalment of the central government grant has not been disbursed, creating further delays in salary payments. While officials have cited a range of issues from technical glitches to administrative hurdles, it is clear that a lack of funds remains the primary reason for the delays.
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