Overview
- Thousands of largely women cooks have staged an indefinite sit‑in in Nava Raipur since December 29, disrupting mid‑day meal services in many government schools.
- Union leaders seek a jump from roughly Rs 66 per day to over Rs 400 and call for regularisation and social security under the PM-POSHAN scheme.
- The deceased were identified as Dulari Bai Yadav of Bemetara and Rukmani Sinha of Balod, who fell ill during or after their participation and died on January 26 while under hospital care.
- Doctors cited pneumonia and severe breathing issues in Yadav’s case and diabetes with cardiac arrest in Sinha’s case, as officials highlighted pre‑existing conditions.
- The Directorate of Public Instruction says a 25% honorarium hike worth about Rs 500 per month (around Rs 17 per day) has been offered and urges an end to the strike.