On 26 August 2025, thousands of mid-day meal cooks marched in Kolkata in response to the call of the West Bengal Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Joint Struggle Committee. The Nabanna March turned into a massive show of anger and determination, as workers demanded the introduction of retirement pensions, uninterrupted and proper government wages for all twelve months of the year, festival bonuses, increased allocations for students, and concrete measures to protect government schools.
For retirement benefits, year-round wages, festival allowance, the appointment of a minimum of three workers per 25 students, proper government recognition and fair wages, daily increase in per-student food allocation, and to defend the public school system — the West Bengal Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Joint Struggle Committee, comprising three unions including the Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union of West Bengal (affiliated to AICCTU), organised the Nabanna March.
The joint rally was led by AICCTU, CITU, and AIUTUC, together with other trade unions. Workers pointed out that although they are engaged in government programmes, they continue to be denied fair wages, job security, and social protection. Leaders of the Joint Struggle Committee declared that the government’s persistent indifference to long-standing demands has left workers with no option but to intensify their struggle.
Protesters also warned that if their demands are not met, larger and more militant actions will follow in the coming days.
