The Revised Honorarium in Odisha
For a long time the central scheme fixed a minimum honorarium of ₹1,000 per month for each Cook-cum-Helper, shared between the Centre and the states. Many states added their own top-up. In Odisha, the state government raised the monthly remuneration of Cook-cum-Helpers from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, a decision that benefits well over one lakh helpers across roughly fifty thousand primary and upper primary schools and adds more than a hundred crore rupees a year to the state's commitment.
Payment Cycle
An important point that often causes confusion is that the honorarium is paid for ten months in a financial year, not all twelve. This reflects the fact that meals are served on school working days, and the long vacation months are excluded. School staff should plan their records around this ten-month cycle so that payment claims match the actual months of service.
How the Cost Is Shared
The base honorarium under the central scheme is shared between the Union government and the state in the standard pattern for the scheme, while any amount above the central minimum is borne by the state from its own budget. Odisha's enhancement to ₹3,000 is therefore largely a state contribution on top of the central share, recognising the skill and effort of the people who cook for millions of children every day.
Keeping Payment Records
To receive honorarium without delay, schools must maintain accurate records: the list of engaged helpers, their attendance against working days, and the months for which payment is due. Payments are increasingly routed directly to the bank accounts of the helpers to reduce leakage and delay. Where payments are late, it is usually because of fund-flow timing between the Centre, the state and the district, rather than a change in the entitlement itself.
Common Questions
Helpers frequently ask whether they are entitled to the meal cost or any allowance beyond the honorarium — the answer is no; the honorarium is a fixed monthly amount for their service, separate from the cooking cost that buys ingredients. They also ask about leave and substitution; in practice, schools arrange a substitute through the School Management Committee when a regular helper is unavailable, and adjust records accordingly so that payment reflects actual service.