The Andhra Pradesh government has defended its proposed smart kitchens initiative under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, dismissing allegations that it will result in job losses for cooks and helpers, or compromise the interests of workers.

In a statement on Sunday, HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, while responding to the criticism by YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, said the smart kitchens project was intended to improve the quality, cleanliness and safety of meals served in the government schools.

“The opposition party is attempting to mislead the public despite the programme creating more jobs for women and economically weaker sections,” Mr. Lokesh said.

As a pilot project, the government established five smart kitchens in Kadapa district, he said. “All 233 existing cook-cum-helpers attached to the schools covered by these kitchens continue to work without any loss of employment,” the Minister asserted.

For the proposed expansion to another 33 smart kitchens in the district, he said no existing worker would lose his or her job. “Instead, the project is expected to create additional employment for 38 head cooks, 22 assistant cooks, 256 helpers and around 76 drivers through the Self-Help Groups,” said the Minister, adding that similar expansion across the State would generate thousands of new employment opportunities while retaining the existing workforce.

Mr. Lokesh also rejected the allegations regarding pending honorarium payments to the cook-cum-helpers. “All the 3,450 cook-cum-helpers in Kadapa district have been paid their honorarium up to April 2026. Since schools remain closed during the summer vacation, no honorarium is payable for May, while June has not yet concluded,” the Minister said, and challenged the opposition party to specify which dues remained unpaid.

‘Inherited dues too paid’

In a separate clarification, the Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal Scheme Department reiterated that the smart kitchens policy was being introduced solely to provide safe, nutritious and standardised meals to the students through modern cooking facilities.

It categorically denied reports that cooks were being removed, stating that none of the nearly 85,000 cook-cum-helpers across the State would lose their jobs and that their welfare and livelihood would be fully protected.

The department further stated that the NDA government had already cleared honorarium payments up to April 2026, and had also released over ₹350 crore in pending dues inherited from the previous government, including payments to ayahs, night watchmen and suppliers of eggs, chikkis and sanitary napkins.

The department urged the public not to believe what it described as politically motivated misinformation regarding the smart kitchens initiative.