(a) whether the cooks under the Mid Day Meal Scheme(MDMS) are paid honorarium/salary
and if so, the details of the honorarium/salary being paid to the cooks in all States and
Union Territories including Odisha;
(b) whether the Government has received any request/demand to raise the honorarium being
paid to cooks under the MDMS;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the decision of the Government in this regard; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a): Yes, Madam. The Cook-cum-Helpers (CCHs) are paid honorarium under the Mid-Day-Meal
Scheme (MDMS). The details of the honorarium being paid to the CCHs in all States and Union
Territories including Odisha are given at Annexure.
(b) to (d): Requests for increasing the honorarium to Cook-cum Helpers (CCHs) under the
Scheme have been received. However, it is stated that the CCHs engaged under the Scheme for
preparing and serving mid-day meals at schools, are honorary workers who have come forward
for rendering social services. In recognition of their services, the CCHs are paid Rs.1000 per
month for 10 months in a year. The honorarium expenditure is shared between the Central
Government and States and UTs as per the approved sharing pattern. The State Governments and
UT Administrations also supplement the honorarium by providing additional funds from their
own resources.
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