Uttar Pradesh extends healthcare and raises pay for 4,006 school cooks in Firozabad

The Uttar Pradesh government has extended comprehensive healthcare and enhanced benefits to 4,006 school cooks working in council-run schools across Firozabad district. At a ceremony held at the Collectorate auditorium, District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Sharma announced that the cooks will now receive cashless medical treatment worth up to five lakh rupees under the government's healthcare initiative. The event was attended by Sadar MLA Manish Asija and Mayor Kamini Rathore, and featured a live broadcast of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's program from Lucknow.

The state government has substantially increased the monthly honorarium for school cooks from 2,000 rupees to 3,000 rupees. Additionally, the annual assistance for sarees has been doubled from 500 rupees to 1,000 rupees. To maintain hygiene standards in school kitchens, the cooks will be provided with aprons, gloves, and caps. The package also includes accident insurance coverage of two lakh rupees without any premium requirement, offering financial security to the workers.

District Magistrate Sharma described the cooks as "Matru Shakti Sevikas" or maternal power servants, acknowledging their role in preparing meals with motherly affection for schoolchildren. He termed these benefits as a significant Raksha Bandhan gift for the cooks. MLA Asija drew a parallel between the cooks' dedication and Yashoda's nurturing of Lord Krishna, emphasizing how these women treat the children as their own while preparing meals.

Mayor Rathore praised the government initiative, stating that health and social security benefits would boost the morale of school cooks. She expressed confidence that these measures would strengthen their commitment to serving nutritious meals to students. During the program, several cooks were presented with Ayushman cards and enhanced benefit payments, marking a substantial improvement in their working conditions and welfare support.