Kerala provides highest honorarium among states to mid-day meal workers: Government
Kerala provides an additional honorarium of Rs 11,000 per month, taking the total monthly honorarium to Rs 12,000, the highest among all states, says Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary
Kerala provides the highest honorarium among states to mid-day meal workers even as the Centre’s contribution remains a meagre Rs 600 per month, the government informed the Parliament.
Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary told the Rajya Sabha the prescribed honorarium under the PM POSHAN scheme continues to remain Rs 1,000 per month for 10 months in a year, of which the central government contributes only Rs 600 per month, with the remaining Rs 400 borne by the states in most cases.
He said Kerala provides an additional honorarium of Rs 11,000 per month, taking the total monthly honorarium to Rs 12,000, the highest among all states. While Tamil Nadu provides additional honorarium ranging from Rs 3,100 to Rs 11,500 depending on category, Kerala’s contribution remains the highest among states on a consistent basis.
The reply also noted Kerala government has subsequently undertaken further revisions, including an enhancement in 2025 and a further increase in the 2026–27 budget by Rs 75 per day, effectively raising the monthly honorarium to Rs 13,500, with the state’s additional share alone reaching to Rs 12,500.
Haryana contributes Rs 7,000 per month, Himachal Rs 4,500, Punjab Rs 3,000, Rajasthan Rs 2,143, West Bengal Rs 2,000, Chandigarh Rs 4,500, Delhi Rs 1,000, Jammu and Kashmir Rs 1,000, and Ladakh Rs 1,000 per month to the scheme.
Commenting on the data, Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said the figures expose a broader structural concern that the Union government continues to retain an unreasonably low financial commitment, even as states are compelled to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring fair remuneration.
"The Centre has not revised its Rs 600 contribution for years, despite rising inflation and repeated representations from states," he said.
The Left leader said the data also reflects Kerala’s sustained commitment to ensuring fair compensation and dignity of labour for scheme workers, most of whom are women from economically vulnerable backgrounds.
The midday meal scheme, now known as PM POSHAN, provides free, hot-cooked meals to children in government, aided, and special training centres. It aims to reduce classroom hunger, malnutrition, and improve school attendance for over 11.8 crore children.
