Nara Lokesh Defends Andhra Pradesh Smart Kitchens Amidst Claims of Job Losses
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh has defended the government's Smart Kitchen initiative, asserting it improves student nutrition and creates new jobs. He refuted claims by YSRC leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy that the program threatens the livelihoods of existing mid-day meal workers.
Highlights
- •Nara Lokesh defends Smart Kitchens as a tool for better nutrition and job creation.
- •Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleges the scheme threatens 85,000 mid-day meal workers' jobs.
- •The government clarifies that current workers are safe and new roles will be created.
- •Minister confirms all honorariums for cook-cum-helpers in YSR Kadapa were paid through April 2026.
The state government of Andhra Pradesh is facing a heated debate over its newly introduced Smart Kitchen initiative. On Sunday, the Minister for Education and IT, Nara Lokesh, offered a robust defense of the program, framing it as a critical step toward ensuring that students in government schools receive quality, nutritious, and hygienic meals. The minister emphasized that the project is designed not only to improve food standards but also to generate new livelihood opportunities for women and members of economically disadvantaged sections of society.
This initiative has drawn sharp criticism from Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former chief minister and president of the YSRC. He has publicly alleged that the implementation of Smart Kitchens will result in the loss of livelihoods for approximately 85,000 mid-day meal workers. The YSRC leadership claims the government is prioritizing this program to benefit its political supporters while leaving existing female workers in a state of uncertainty and unemployment.
Addressing Concerns and Misinformation
Minister Nara Lokesh strongly refuted these accusations, describing the opposition to the program as unfortunate given its goal of enhancing child welfare. He challenged critics, questioning why there is resistance to a scheme explicitly designed to boost nutrition and create new jobs. To illustrate his point, the minister cited the progress in YSR Kadapa district, where five Smart Kitchens were launched as part of a pilot project.
According to Lokesh, all 233 cook-cum-helpers previously employed at schools covered by the pilot are maintaining their current positions. He clarified that the addition of 33 more Smart Kitchens in the district would not lead to job losses. Instead, he projected that the expansion would create fresh employment for women in self-help groups, citing roles for 38 head cooks, 22 assistant cooks, 256 helpers, and 76 drivers within Kadapa district alone. He asserted that a full, state-wide rollout would ultimately provide thousands of additional jobs while simultaneously safeguarding existing employment.
Addressing specific allegations regarding the non-payment of honorariums, the minister stated that all 3,450 cook-cum-helpers in the YSR Kadapa district had received their full payments through April 2026. He explained that no payments were outstanding for May because educational institutions were closed for the summer break, and the processing for June was ongoing. Lokesh concluded by challenging the opposition to provide evidence of any specific pending dues, firmly defending the transparency and necessity of the Smart Kitchen expansion across the state.
