Mid-day meal material cost hiked under PM Poshan Scheme

Material cost, earlier known as cooking cost, for mid-day meals provided to government school students has been increased under the PM Poshan Scheme.

As per a letter issued by the Director General of Elementary Education, Haryana, to all District Elementary Education Officers in the state, with the approval of the Government of India, material cost has been increased, with effect from May 1.

The Centre and the state government fund the scheme at a 60:40 ratio. For Bal Vatika and primary classes (I-V), the material cost per child per day has been increased to Rs 6.78 from the earlier Rs 6.19. For classes VI to VII, the cost has been increased to Rs 10.17 from Rs 9.29.

A recipe and day-wise menu, issued by the Education Department, are followed by government schools while preparing mid-day meals for students.

‘Increase inadequate’

The Rajkiya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh is not satisfied with the revision and has termed it ‘inadequate’.

The sangh had been demanding that Rs 10 and Rs 15 per child per day be allotted for primary and upper-primary classes, respectively.

Sangh spokesman Amit Chhabra said, “Mid-day meals are prepared as per items and days fixed by the department, and the recipe provided by the department is followed. The material cost has been revised by the government, but the revision is inadequate due to the higher cost of vegetables, pulses, cooking oil and other essential commodities.”

“Providing good quality and nutritious food is a big task. With some more budget allocation, we can easily achieve it. The government should increase the budget to Rs 10 and Rs 15 per child for primary and upper-primary classes, respectively,” he added.

Meanwhile, District Elementary Education Officer Sudhir Kalra said, “Mid-day meals are provided to students of Bal Vatika, primary and upper-primary classes in government schools. The government has revised the per-child material cost. This will help staff in further improving the quality of food. Nutrition gardens were developed in government schools in Ambala so as to include organic vegetable supplies in mid-day meals.”

“The increased budget and the nutrition gardens will definitely help in preparing nutritious food for students,” he added.

Haryana Tribune