Chandigarh: Punjab Finance, Planning, and Excise Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced today that the Punjab Mid Day Meal Society has signed an agreement with Canara Bank, under which mid-day meal cooks and helpers will be insured free of cost. Finance Minister Cheema revealed that the cabinet sub-committee has also written a demi-official letter to the Union Government, recommending an increase in the salary of mid-day meal cooks from Rs 600 to Rs 2000.
During a meeting with the Mid-day Meal Cooks Union Punjab (BMS) at his office, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured the union leaders that all mid-day meal cooks and helpers who open a zero balance account in Canara Bank will be covered under this insurance scheme. The plan includes insurance coverage of Rs 16 lakh in case of accidental death, Rs 1 lakh in case of natural death, and Rs 2 lakh in case of the death of a spouse in an accident.
Addressing the salary issue raised by the union leaders, Minister Cheema informed them that in addition to the recommendation letter by the cabinet sub-committee to the Union Government, their case will be further pursued by the Education Minister and officials of the School Education Department with the concerned Union Ministry.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema mentioned that the letter to the Union Government also recommended providing one cook for every 50 students. Currently, the arrangement allows for one mid-day meal cook for every 1 to 25 students, two for 25 to 100 students, and subsequently only one cook for every additional 100 students. He emphasized that increasing the number of cooks would address the challenges being faced in preparing mid-day meals.
During the meeting, the Finance Minister asked the Secretary, School Education K.K. Yadav to consider creating additional posts for mid-day cooks at the block level to ensure alternate arrangements are available when workers need leave. He also directed the Managing Director, Mid Day Meal Society, Varinder Singh Brar to ensure that needed dress items like aprons, caps, and gloves to be provided to the mid-day meal workers at the earliest.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's commitment to improving the working conditions and financial security of mid-day meal workers, ensuring their well-being and enhancing the quality of service provided to students.
State President of the Mid-day Meal Cooks Union Punjab (BMS) Karamchand Chindalia, General Secretary Mumtaz Begam, and Vice President Rinki Nawan Shahar were also present in the meeting.