<p>Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned Rs 117.73 crore financial assistance for cooks and helpers engaged in preparing and serving the mid-day meals in schools across the state.</p>.<p>Patnaik also sanctioned Rs 500 each to 1.09 lakh women cooks and helpers to purchase a saree each. An amount of Rs 5.45 crore was deposited in their bank accounts on Tuesday, a CMO release said on Wednesday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/two-in-intensive-care-after-steam-leak-in-tata-steels-odisha-plant-1227698.html" target="_blank">Two in intensive care after steam leak in Tata Steel's Odisha plant</a></strong></p>.<p>The mid-day meal is being served in about 50,000 schools where more than 45 lakh students are served with mid-day meal through 4,730 Mission Shakti Groups, it said.</p>
<p>Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned Rs 117.73 crore financial assistance for cooks and helpers engaged in preparing and serving the mid-day meals in schools across the state.</p>.<p>Patnaik also sanctioned Rs 500 each to 1.09 lakh women cooks and helpers to purchase a saree each. An amount of Rs 5.45 crore was deposited in their bank accounts on Tuesday, a CMO release said on Wednesday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/two-in-intensive-care-after-steam-leak-in-tata-steels-odisha-plant-1227698.html" target="_blank">Two in intensive care after steam leak in Tata Steel's Odisha plant</a></strong></p>.<p>The mid-day meal is being served in about 50,000 schools where more than 45 lakh students are served with mid-day meal through 4,730 Mission Shakti Groups, it said.</p>