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Gujarat's Mid-Day Meal Scheme Faces Decline in Meals Despite Rising Costs
In Gujarat, number of mid-day meals falling, but spending on scheme rising: here’s why
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
In Gujarat, the daily number of mid-day meals served to children in government schools has dropped by 1.76 lakh over three years, while spending on the scheme surged by 57% to ₹1,626.08 crore in 2024-25. Factors include increased input costs and changing eating habits among students.
- 01Daily mid-day meals served decreased by 1.76 lakh from 42,21,257 to 40,44,689.
- 02Expenditure on the scheme rose by 57%, reaching ₹1,626.08 crore in 2024-25.
- 03The decline in meals may be due to children bringing food from home, especially in urban areas.
- 04The scheme, now known as PM-POSHAN, aims to improve enrollment and reduce poverty impact.
- 05Payments to nonprofits providing meals increased significantly, from ₹77.63 crore to ₹144.88 crore.
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In Gujarat, the number of mid-day meals served to children in government schools has declined by 1.76 lakh over the last three years, dropping from 42,21,257 meals in 2022-23 to 40,44,689 in 2024-25. Despite this reduction, the expenditure on the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, now called PM-POSHAN, has increased by 57%, reaching ₹1,626.08 crore in 2024-25, up from ₹1,155.98 crore in 2023-24 and ₹1,035.82 crore in 2022-23. This increase in spending is attributed to rising input costs, including kitchen supplies. Neha Gupta, Joint Commissioner of the PM POSHAN Yojana, noted that many children, particularly in urban areas, are opting to bring food from home, contributing to the decline in meal numbers. The scheme aims to enhance enrollment rates and alleviate the financial burden on impoverished families. Additionally, payments to nonprofit organizations providing meals on behalf of the government rose from ₹77.63 crore in 2022-23 to ₹144.88 crore in 2024-25, indicating a growing reliance on these organizations to support the initiative.
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The decline in mid-day meals could affect children's nutrition and school attendance, particularly among low-income families who rely on these meals.
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