Cheema said that lunch workers who open a zero balance account with Canara Bank in Punjab will be covered under this insurance scheme. The plan includes insurance coverage a ₹16 lakh in case of accidental death, ₹1 lakh in case of natural death and ₹2 lakh in case of death of a spouse in an accident.

In a meeting with the representatives of Mi-day Meal Cooks Union Punjab, Cheema informed that the cabinet sub-committee has also written a demi-official letter (DO) to the Center recommending a hike in the salary of mid-day cooks. ₹600 to ₹2,000.

On their demand for salary hike, the minister said that apart from the registered letter, their case will be further pursued by the education minister and school education department officials with the central government.

The Finance Minister said the state government has also made a recommendation to the Center to provide one cook for every 50 students.

Currently, the arrangement allows for one lunch cook for every 1 to 25 students, two for every 25 to 100 students, and thereafter only one cook for every additional 100 students.

Cheema also asked school education secretary KK Yadav to consider creating additional posts of midday cooks at the block level to ensure that alternative arrangements are available when workers need leave.

He also directed Mid-Day Table Society Managing Director Varinder Singh Brar to provide caps, caps and gloves to the table workers at the earliest.

The meeting was attended by President Karamchand Chindalia and General Secretary Mumtaz Begam among others.