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The Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh has taken a big decision for the cooks preparing mid-day meals (PM Nutrition Scheme) in primary and upper primary government schools run under the Basic Education Department of the state. Along with a direct increase of ₹ 1,000 per month in the monthly honorarium of cooks, the state government has also given free cashless health cover of up to ₹ 5 lakh to about 3.54 lakh cooks and their families in the state. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the digital health card distribution campaign at the ‘Rasoiya Samman Ceremony’ organized at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow.
Now you will get ₹3,000 every month: Approval received from Cabinet Circulation
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has given official approval to the proposal to increase the honorarium of cooks through circulation. As per the mandate issued by the Special Secretary (Basic Education):
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Revised Honorarium: Cooks working in primary and upper primary schools will now be given an honorarium of ₹ 3,000 per month instead of the current ₹ 2,000.
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Payment Term: This honorarium is sent directly into the bank accounts (DBT) of the cooks for 10 months every year during the academic session.
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Date of entry into force: The increased honorarium will be effective from September 2026, the first payment of which will be given to the cooks in October 2026.
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Additional Allowances: Apart from the honorarium, the annual assistance of ₹ 500 for uniform and ₹ 400 for apron/gloves given to the cooks will continue as before.
Free cashless treatment worth ₹5 lakh per year: ‘Rasoiya Swasthya Suraksha’
Along with the increase in honorarium, the State Government has implemented a historic health protection cover for cooks and their dependent family members:
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Cashless Medical Card: Special Ayushman/cashless medical facility cards are being provided to 3.54 lakh cooks of the state.
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Annual treatment up to ₹5 lakh: Under this scheme, chefs and their families will get cashless and free treatment up to ₹ 5 lakh annually in government and empaneled private hospitals for treatment of serious illnesses.
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Statewide distribution: Along with the main function in Lucknow, health cards have been distributed by organizing chef felicitation ceremonies in the presence of local public representatives in all 75 districts of the state.
‘Our cook brothers and sisters are Karmayogi who improve the health of children’: CM Yogi
Addressing the program, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the cook mothers and sisters who cook nutritious food for more than 1.46 crore children every day in more than 1.32 lakh council schools of the state are the real backbone of the PM Poshan Yojana. They not only cook food but also take care of the health of the children with motherly sentiments. The government is fully committed to their social respect, economic security and health welfare.
Honorarium increase was being demanded for a long time
After the improvement in the honorarium of Shikshamitras and instructors, chef unions across the state were continuously demanding increase in the honorarium. It is noteworthy that initially the cooks used to get only ₹ 1,000, which was increased to ₹ 1,500 in the year 2019 and ₹ 2,000 in 2022. In addition to the Central Government’s contribution of ₹600, the State Government has continuously increased its contribution from its budget to now reach ₹3,000 per month.