Why Cook-cum-Helpers Matter
The Cook-cum-Helper, locally called Pachika in Odisha, is the person who actually prepares and serves the Mid Day Meal in a school. Their work decides whether the meal is hot, hygienic and served on time, so the scheme lays down clear rules for how many can be engaged and how they are chosen.
How Many CCHs a School Can Engage
The number of Cook-cum-Helpers a school may engage is linked to its enrolment, not its attendance. Under the norm reiterated by the State Project Management Unit, a school with up to 25 enrolled students is allowed one Cook-cum-Helper. A school with 26 to 100 students may engage two. For every additional block of up to 100 students beyond that, one more Cook-cum-Helper is permitted. So a school of, say, 250 students would be entitled to engage three helpers under this slab system.
Eligibility
CCH positions are intended to empower local communities, and women — particularly from self-help groups and disadvantaged sections — are given preference. Candidates are usually expected to be local residents within the school's habitation, within a prescribed age range, and physically fit to handle kitchen work. Preference is commonly given to widows, women from below-poverty-line households and members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, in line with the scheme's social goals.
Selection Process
Engagement is generally made through the School Management Committee with the involvement of the local body, ensuring transparency and community ownership. The committee verifies eligibility, maintains records of the selection and reports the engagement to the block and district authorities. Because the engagement is honorarium-based and not a regular government post, it is reviewed periodically.
Disqualifications and Conduct
A Cook-cum-Helper can be removed for poor hygiene, repeated absence, misuse of food stock or any conduct that endangers the children. Maintaining cleanliness, following safe cooking practices and serving the prescribed menu are basic conditions of the engagement. Schools are advised to keep proper attendance and payment records for every helper to avoid disputes and to support audit.
Reporting Enrolment Correctly
Because the number of helpers depends on enrolment, the scheme authorities periodically ask District Education Officers to verify enrolment figures so that engagements stay within the prescribed norms. Over- or under-engagement against the slab can create payment and audit problems, so accurate enrolment reporting is essential.