The Tamil Nadu government has granted administrative sanction for ₹186.94 crore to provide free meals to sanitation workers within the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for a period of three years. This measure will enable the GCC to supply meals to approximately 29,455 conservancy workers, which includes staff employed under private contractors, across 512 locations, according to a government order (GO) issued by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.
The announcement closely follows a period of prolonged agitation by sanitation workers protesting against the privatisation of waste management operations in two zones under the GCC, and demanding the regularisation of their jobs. The free meal scheme is one of six special welfare initiatives announced by the government on August 14.
The civic body will engage a catering agency on a three-year contract to prepare food in designated kitchens. Meals, which must comply with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India norms, will be packed and distributed to the sanitation workers at their respective workplaces.
The total sanctioned sum for the three-year scheme includes a 5 per cent cost escalation in the second and third years to cover preparation and distribution charges. The scheme will be implemented by the GCC using grants from the Sixth State Finance Commission, as stated in the GO issued on October 14.
A subsequent release from the Tamil Nadu government on October 23 confirmed that, as per the guidelines in the GO, the GCC will appoint a project management consultant (PMC) to oversee the scheme and ensure quality and quantity control in food preparation, packaging, and distribution.
Emerging from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin on August 14, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu had stated that this initiative would be rolled out first in Chennai and subsequently extended to other parts of the state.
Also read: SC to Tamil Nadu: Wait for ruling on Presidential Reference
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