Bhubaneswar, March 19 -- Thousands of midday meal cooks and helpers staged a fresh protest at Lower PMG square in Bhubaneswar, spending Wednesday night on the streets while pressing for fulfilment of their long-pending demands.

The agitation, led by the All Odisha Midday Meal Cook-cum-Helper Association, is being held near the Odisha Assembly, where the protesters have launched an indefinite dharna under the open sky.

The association alleged that cooks have not received their honorarium for the past three months and demanded immediate release of pending dues. They also accused the government of failing to act on earlier assurances.

Apart from clearance of wages, the protesters have sought a hike in remuneration, implementation of equal...