Midday meal costs cut due to early monsoon

Time of India

a day ago

midday meal scheme
PM Poshan scheme
Thanks to the early arrival of the monsoon and the absence of drought-like conditions in Karnataka this year, the state and central government have saved a total of Rs 88 crore under theThis significant saving comes as the Department of School Education did not have to extend the midday meal program during the summer vacation—a routine practice in drought-affected districts. Frequent rains triggered by early monsoon and cyclonic activity in 2025 helped Karnataka avoid declaring drought in any district, eliminating the need to provide meals during holidays.An official said, 'In 2024, the state had supplied midday meals for 41 days to 26.09 lakh students in drought-hit districts. The centre had contributed Rs 55.82 crore and the state Rs 32.58 crore, sharing costs in a 60:40 ratio. A total of 60,826 cooking assistants were engaged, and the cost per student averaged Rs 5.45. Of the total beneficiaries, 16.25 lakh were primary and 9.83 lakh were high school students.'Under the, the state government provides midday meals during summer vacations in areas officially declared drought-affected. Since no such declarations were made in 2025, the meal service was not required, resulting in a projected savings of Rs 88 crore.In 2025–26, the department has been permitted to provide meals on 244 academic days to 40.07 lakh students, for which the government has approved an outlay of Rs 607 crore. Officials noted that the unused funds from this year cannot be diverted to other projects. Instead, if needed in the future, the state will submit a fresh proposal to the centre, which may then release additional grants.Siddanand V, an economist, said that this year's early and consistent monsoon has been a game-changer for Karnataka, especially in terms of resource allocation for welfare schemes. 'The Rs 88 crore saved under the midday meal scheme is not just a financial relief—it reflects how environmental stability can reduce the pressure on emergency welfare budgets,' he said. He noted that in the past years, providing meals during extended summer breaks in drought-affected districts was critical for food security. He said that while the scheme is a lifeline, this year's savings underscore the importance of long-term planning and climate-resilient policies. 'It also highlights how improved rainfall can ease the burden on grassroot infrastructure—cooking staff, logistics, and supply chains. However, these funds must remain accessible for future contingencies,' he said. He opined that the government should focus on strengthening storage, nutritional standards, and readiness for future climate uncertainties. 'With weather becoming increasingly unpredictable, agility in planning and funding is key,' he added.