Shimla, May 20 -- The Centre of Indian Trade Unions-affiliated Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, Himachal Pradesh, and the Himachal Pradesh Mid-Day Meal Workers Union on Tuesday opposed the election authorities' decision to deploy anganwadi and mid-day meal workers for preparing food for polling parties during the upcoming panchayat elections. In a press statement issued here, the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union said the order had placed an additional burden on anganwadi workers, who were already overworked. The union questioned how workers would manage election-related cooking duties when polling teams usually arrive at booths a day before polling, even as the day had otherwise been declared a holiday. "Cooking and serving food for polling staff may continue till 10 or 11 pm. In such a situation, how will women workers stay there and return home safely?" state president of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, Neelam Jaiswal said. The Himachal Pradesh Mid-Day Meal Workers Union also opposed the deployment for cooking food for polling parties.The union said it had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Director of Education requesting that mid-day meal workers not be assigned such duties. According to the union, the education director had assured them that the matter would be raised with the Election Commission. The union pointed out that mid-day meal workers already cook meals throughout the day in schools and are not paid any additional remuneration for election-related cooking duties, unlike other employees engaged in election work."The lowest-paid mid-day meal workers are being asked to cook for polling parties free of cost. This is completely unjust," said state president of mid-day workers union Sandeep Kumar. htc...