India, Sept. 28 -- Ludhiana Mid-day meal workers in government schools are struggling to manage expenses as delayed payments and deductions from their already meagre honorarium have added to their financial difficulties.

The workers, who prepare meals for students under the PM POSHAN scheme, have received only Rs.2,000 against their monthly honorarium of Rs.3,000 for July, leaving Rs.1,000 unpaid. They have also not received their honorarium for the subsequent months, raising concerns over their financial security.

Workers said delayed payments had become a recurring problem, while no clear reason had been given for withholding part of their July honorarium. Parveen Kumari, district president of the Mid-Day Meal Workers' Union, criticis...