LUCKNOW, Aug. 24 -- Months ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and days before Raksha Bandhan, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has presented four gifts to 3.54 lakh cooks engaged in the mid-day meal scheme, now known as the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme. Around 93% of them are cooks, a spokesperson said.

Speaking at an event at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan here on Sunday, Adityanath reiterated the state cabinet's decision that cooks would now receive an honorarium of Rs.3,000 instead of Rs.2,000.

In the event of an accident or mishap, the cooks and their families would receive assistance of Rs.2 lakh through the State Bank of India, along with free cashless health coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh annually....