State govt on Saturday increased the remuneration of midday meal cooks to Rs 2,000 per month from Rs 1,400 with effect from Oct 2023. Govt will spend an additional Rs 74 crore for the revised allowance. The decision will benefit over 1.1 lakh cook-cum-helpers engaged in 55,000 schools across the state. Govt also announced Rs 1 lakh compensation to the family of a cook or an assistant in case of death on duty.
A district-level cooking competition was organized among the cooks-cum-helpers on Tuesday at Amar Shahid Thakur Vishwanath Shahdev District School to enhance the quality of food served in midday meals. The move is aimed at bringing out culinary talents to provide nutritious meals to children amidst limited resources.