Yogi Empowers Mid-Day Meal Cooks: Historic Honorarium Hike and Cashless Health Cards Ahead of Raksha Bandhan
In a landmark move that brings immense social security and financial relief, the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has introduced transformative welfare benefits for more than 3.53 lakh mid-day meal cooks working across the state's schools. Ahead of the auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan, the state administration organized a grand felicitation ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, where cooks were honored as vital pillars of student nutrition and presented with comprehensive healthcare guarantees.
Major Financial Boost and Social Security Guarantees
The Yogi Adityanath cabinet recently approved a proposal raising the monthly honorarium of mid-day meal cooks by ₹1,000, lifting their monthly earnings to ₹3,000. Highlighting the transformation, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath noted that these workers previously received a meager ₹1,000 per month, which has now been tripled over successive increments. Furthermore, to ensure complete financial safety, the Basic Education Department has opened formal bank accounts for all cooks through the State Bank of India to streamline direct benefit transfers, backed by an immediate ₹2 lakh accident and disability insurance assistance package provided directly through banking partnerships.
Comprehensive Cashless Healthcare and Maternity Benefits
To guarantee robust medical support, the state government distributed cashless health cards to cooks at the Lucknow event, ensuring that workers and their families can access free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh across empaneled hospitals. In addition to health security, the administration has introduced progressive workplace reforms by completely removing the age-difference requirement for female cooks seeking maternity leave. Recognizing their dedication under the PM Poshan Yojana, the government is also providing additional financial support of ₹500 for uniforms, ₹400 for gloves, and comprehensive protective hygiene kits.
