Ludhiana grapples with government-funded school meal delays, leaving workers in a financial bind
In the heart of Chandigarh and its surrounding regions, a two-month delay in the mid-day meal funds and salaries for workers has taken a toll on the nutrition of primary school students and the livelihoods of those who prepare these meals.
The mid-day meal program, a crucial part of the education system, provides food for primary school students in the district. However, due to unpaid funds, schools have been struggling to keep the program running. Teachers and school heads have been using their own money to ensure children are fed, as each primary school student is allotted a budget of ₹6.78 for the mid-day meal.
The delay in payment has caused difficulties for mid-day meal workers, many of whom are single mothers, in purchasing vegetables and fruits. Groceries can be bought on credit, but perishable items like vegetables and fruits pose a financial challenge.
Mid-day meal workers, who receive a modest honorarium of ₹3,000 a month, have not been paid for over two months. This financial strain has caused mental and financial stress and threatens work stoppages that could disrupt the nutrition scheme for hundreds of children.
The crisis also underscores a disconnect between policy presentation and operational realities. While the district elementary education department announced a contest for the "most beautiful kitchen" among government primary schools, the reality on the ground for mid-day meal workers and staff is grim.
The delay undermines the scheme’s goal of providing nutritious meals to improve children's health and school attendance. With no funds for fresh groceries, the quality and quantity of meals have suffered, imperiling children's nutrition.
If unresolved, these funding delays risk increasing school absenteeism and dropout rates among poor children dependent on mid-day meals for nutrition and attendance incentives. The delayed payments also sow uncertainty and stress among school staff and workers, potentially impairing the program's delivery at a critical time.
Schools facing problems with the mid-day meal program may contact the Punjab Mid-Day Meal Society for assistance. On average, government primary schools spend ₹80,000 a month on these meals. It is hoped that swift action will be taken to address this issue and ensure the continued provision of mid-day meals to primary school students in Chandigarh.
[1] Source: The Indian Express [2] Source: The Times of India [3] Source: Hindustan Times [4] Source: Deccan Herald
- The government's mid-day meal program, an essential part of the education-and-self-development sector, faces a severe blow due to a two-month delay in funds, affecting the nutrition and livelihoods of thousands of primary school students and meal workers in Chandigarh.
- The ongoing financial struggle of mid-day meal workers, many of whom are single mothers, has expanded to include the general-news arena, with politics entering the conversation as the delay in payments threatens work stoppages that could jeopardize the education and nutrition of hundreds of children.
- The delays in mid-day meal funds have resulted in a shortage of fresh groceries, impacting the quality and quantity of meals provided, and risking increased school absenteeism and dropout rates in education due to poor nutrition, as reported by media outlets such as The Indian Express, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, and Deccan Herald.
