Ludhiana teachers bear mid-day meal costs amid paucity of funds

Since the reopening of government schools after summer vacations, teachers across Ludhiana have been personally funding the mid-day meal scheme due to a delay in the release of cooking

cost funds. The staff is scrambling to keep the meals going. The scheme is run under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana and the cooking cost was revised in April this year.

The cooking cost—meant to cover essentials such as oil, pulses, vegetables and condiments—is jointly funded by the Centre and the state, with a 60:40 ratio. However, the funds have not been released forcing teachers to dip into their own savings to keep the children fed.

Sukhdir Sekhon, Principal, Government Primary School, Moti Nagar, who also has the additional charge of a school in Giaspura, said he had spent nearly Rs 2 lakh from his own pocket to keep the kitchens running. “Vegetables and fruits are bought with cash, while other groceries are taken on credit. The bills are mounting,” he said.

In total, 94 government schools in Ludhiana serve mid-day meals. Another principal from Haibowal shared that local grocery stores had stopped extending credit due to delayed payments. “Now, the staff is pooling money to ensure meals aren’t interrupted. We can’t let the children go hungry,” he said.

A third principal, requesting anonymity, said the situation was becoming increasingly unsustainable. “Earlier, mid-day meal workers hadn’t received salaries. That issue was resolved, but now the cooking cost is pending. We understand the importance of these meals, but it’s weighing heavily on us.”

The scheme’s revised rates, announced in April, increased the cooking cost from Rs 6.19 to Rs 6.78 per student for primary classes, and from Rs 9.29 to Rs 10.17 for upper primary students. Of this, Rs 4.07 and Rs 6.10 are to be contributed by the Centre, while Rs 2.71 and Rs 4.07 are the state’s share, respectively.

District Education Officer Ravinder Kaur confirmed the delay in the disbursal of funds. “Bills have been submitted, and we are hopeful the funds will be released in the coming days,” she said.

While food grains are supplied separately under the scheme, the cooking cost covers fuel, vegetables, oil, spices and other essentials. With teachers now acting as financiers, the situation underscores the urgent need for timely disbursement and stronger support mechanisms to ensure that no child’s meal is compromised due to bureaucratic delays, added another primary school teacher.