Gonda: The Basic Education Department organised a felicitation and cashless healthcare card distribution programme for cooks working under the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Scheme at the Zila Panchayat auditorium in Gonda on Sunday.
The programme was organised as part of a state-level initiative launched by the Uttar Pradesh government for the welfare of cooks engaged in preparing and serving meals to schoolchildren. District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan and Rameshankar Mishra, representative of the Gonda MP and Union Minister of State for External Affairs, distributed cashless medical cards and symbolic cheques reflecting the increase in cooks’ honorarium.
Addressing the cooks, the guests highlighted their important contribution to the successful implementation of the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Scheme. They said cooks work with dedication to ensure that schoolchildren receive nutritious and quality meals. The introduction of healthcare benefits and an increase in honorarium would strengthen their social and economic security, they said.
Similar programmes were organised across all Assembly constituencies of the district. In Katra Bazar, MLA Bawan Singh distributed the cards and symbolic cheques, while MLA Prem Narayan Pandey attended the programme in Tarabganj. In Gaura, MLA Prabhat Verma and in Mankapur, MLA Vinay Kumar Dwivedi distributed the benefits to cooks. The programmes enabled a large number of cooks to receive the benefits of the government’s welfare initiative and be formally recognised for their contribution.
At the district-level programme, the Additional Director of Basic Education, District Basic Education Officer, Block Education Officers, District Coordinator Rajesh Singh and other officials and employees of the Basic Education Department were present. Officials oversaw the arrangements and distribution process.
The programmes witnessed an atmosphere of enthusiasm among the cooks. Public representatives and officials appreciated their role in ensuring the nutrition and well-being of schoolchildren and said the measures reflected the government’s commitment to recognising their contribution and improving their welfare.
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