Chandigarh: Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, during a meeting with the representatives of Mid-Day Meal Cooks Unions here today, directed the School Education Department to form a committee comprising officials of education and finance departments and representatives of the unions, which would Study various aspects related to the salaries of mid-day meal cooks. The Minister directed officials to submit their report so that a decision regarding increasing their salaries can be taken as soon as possible.
During the meeting which was held in a pleasant atmosphere, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema discussed in detail the demands raised by the mid-day meal cook unions. The Finance Minister directed the School Education Department to prepare an insurance policy in consultation with banks or insurance companies, which can provide both health and life insurance to the mid-day meal cooks.
The Finance Minister directed the Education Department to issue guidelines to school management committees regarding the appointment of cooks for mid-day meals. He said that in these guidelines, priority should be given to those cooks who have previous experience working under this scheme.
He said that this would directly benefit those mid-day meal cooks who have to change schools due to marriage or any other solid reasons. He said that the School Education Department should also write a letter to the Election Commission to ensure that the payment is directly credited to the accounts of these cooks in case of duty imposed during the elections.
Finance Minister Cheema directs School Education Dept to form committee regarding salary of mid-day meal cooks