Question : Cooks for Mid Day Meal

(a) whether there is any special guidelines for employment of cook-cumhelper for
cooking and distribution of nutritious food in schools and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that the people from BPL families or needy women are
selected for the said posts and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the said cook-cum-helper are entitled to get a monthly honorarium of
one thousand rupees only;
(d) if so, whether the said payment is in conformity with the labour laws; and
(e) if not, whether the Government is considering any plan to raise the honorarium
of cook-cum-helpers and ensure timely payment and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): MDM Guidelines provide for engagement of one cook-cum-helper for schools
with up to 25 students, two cooks-cum-helpers for schools with 26 to 100 students and
one additional cook-cum-helper for every addition of up to 100 students. At present,
25.74 lakh Cook-cum-helpers, 87% of which are women have been engaged by
States/UTs.
(c) to (e):The cook-cum-helpers are engaged on a part time basis by the States/UTs for
preparation of the meal on school days. For this work, they are paid an honorarum of Rs.
1000/- per month, which is shared between the centre and State in the ratio of 90:10 for
North Eastern Region and 3 Himalayan States viz.Uttarakhand, J&K and Himachal
Pradesh and 60:40 for other States. For UTs entire cost is borne by Central Government.
15 States/UTs are contributing more than their minimum share towards honorarium to
cook-cum-helper from their own resources. At present, 68% cook-cum-helpers are being
paid honorarium in their bank account to ensure timely payment.
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