Centre revises material costs for midday meals in govt schools under PM Poshan

The caller rates volition beryllium applicable from December 1. The worldly costs are revised each 2 years earlier November by taking inflation into consideration. Earlier, schoolteachers had flagged the hold successful revising the rates.

In Punjab, the Centre volition carnivore 60 per cent of the worldly outgo and the authorities authorities volition supply the rest. The cardinal government’s stock volition frankincense beryllium Rs 3.71 per kid and the authorities volition adhd Rs 2.48 per kid for Bal Vatika and superior students. For precocious superior schoolhouse students, the Centre’s stock volition beryllium Rs 5.57 per child, with the authorities contributing Rs 3.72.

Approximately 19 lakh students of up to Class 8 are beneficiaries of the midday repast strategy crossed 19,120 authorities schools successful the state.

Last revision successful 2022

Before 2022, the erstwhile revision of worldly costs took spot connected May 15, 2020, with rates acceptable astatine Rs 4.97 for superior students and Rs 7.45 for precocious superior students. In 2018 the costs were revised, with the complaint for superior schoolhouse children expanding from Rs 4.13 to Rs 4.35, portion for precocious superior schoolhouse students, it roseate from Rs 6.18 to Rs 6.51 per child.

Launched successful 1995 and implemented nationwide since 2001, the midday repast strategy aims to combat hunger and malnutrition among schoolchildren done coordination betwixt the cardinal and authorities governments.

Digvijay Pal Sharma, president of Democratic Teachers Front, said: “It is bully that finally, the central authorities has revised the worldly costs. Given the ostentation rate, we had been asking them to revise the rates soon. Schools get wheat and atom from the cardinal excavation and isolated from this, astir schools put substance besides connected their own. So aft gathering each these expenses, I deliberation we tin negociate with the caller rates.”

Meanwhile, the demands of midday repast cooks and cook-cum-helpers are yet to beryllium met. The authorities authorities is expected to notify the caller costs soon.