Months ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and days before Raksha Bandhan, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has presented four gifts to 3.54 lakh cooks engaged in the mid-day meal scheme, now known as the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme. Around 93% of them are cooks, a spokesperson said.
Speaking at an event at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan here on Sunday, Adityanath reiterated the state cabinet’s decision that cooks would now receive an honorarium of ₹3,000 instead of ₹2,000.
In the event of an accident or mishap, the cooks and their families would receive assistance of ₹2 lakh through the State Bank of India, along with free cashless health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually. The allowance for uniforms has been doubled—raised from ₹500 to ₹1,000.
He noted that nine years ago, the honorarium for cooks was ₹1,000, and even that was paid irregularly. “To stop the plunder by SP and Congress members—who used to rob the poor of their due—PM Modi facilitated the opening of Jan Dhan accounts for 55 crore people,” he said.
“Now, funds are transferred directly into accounts via DBT. Previously, there was no guarantee of social security for the cooks. Families used to be left helpless in the event of accidents, disasters, permanent disability, or death,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“Now, funds are transferred directly into accounts via DBT. Previously, there was no guarantee of social security for the cooks. Families used to be left helpless in the event of accidents, disasters, permanent disability, or death,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“Different types of food are to be served on different days. The school kitchen should remain clean and hygienic, and nutritious food should be provided to children on time and with proper hygiene, according to the weekly menu,” he said.
No kitchen entry for outsiders while food is being prepared: CM
The chief minister cautioned the cooks that there should be no negligence in this regard. “There should be no cases of food poisoning. An enemy should not be able to do anything that puts you under suspicion. A lizard or insect must not fall into the food, as this would amount to playing with lives. No outsider should be allowed to enter the kitchen while food is being prepared. Under the PM POSHAN Mission, the six-day menu also includes millets, local cuisine, and seasonal fruits,” he said.
The chief minister also said a kitchen is not merely about filling a child’s stomach with food; it is also a campaign to make childhood healthy and strong. “PM Modi freed you from smoke,” he added.
He further said the basic education council coordinated with the State Bank of India (SBI) to ensure that accounts would be opened with the bank, into which the cooks’ honorarium would be deposited. In the event of any untoward incident, the bank would immediately make ₹2 lakh available. Place your trust in the BJP’s ‘double-engine’ government; the administration will resolve all issues, he said.