The government has made the provision of engagement of cook-cum-helpers in the Mid Day Meal Scheme, MDMS, to ensure hygienic preparation and serving of cooked meals in schools.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development, E. Ahamed said that the MDMS guidelines provide for engagement of one cook-cum-helper for a school having up to 25 students, two cook-cum-helpers for schools with 26 to 100 students and one additional cook-cum-helper for every addition of up to 100 students.