Gonda district honors PM Poshan cooks with higher pay and cashless medical cards

The district administration of Gonda honored cooks working under the PM Poshan Scheme and distributed cashless medical cards in a special ceremony held at the District Panchayat Hall. The event, organized by the Basic Education Department on the directions of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, recognized the vital role played by these workers in providing nutritious meals to schoolchildren across the district.

District Magistrate distributed symbolic cheques marking an increase in honorarium for the cooks, along with cashless medical cards to ensure their health security. The cashless medical card scheme will enable the cooks to access healthcare services without upfront payment, providing them financial relief and better access to treatment when needed.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including Rama Shankar Mishra, representing the Member of Parliament for Gonda and Union Minister of State for External Affairs. Officials from the Basic Education Department were also present at the event to acknowledge the contributions of the cooks who work daily to implement the PM Poshan Scheme in schools across the district.

The PM Poshan Scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is a centrally sponsored program aimed at improving the nutritional status of school-age children while encouraging school attendance and retention. The cooks form the backbone of this initiative, preparing and serving meals to lakhs of students every day. The honorarium increase and medical card distribution reflect the state government's commitment to improving the welfare of these frontline workers who play a crucial role in child nutrition and education.