Balvatika project: From today, UKG children of Punjab govt schools to be served midday meals
Even though the state education department had proposed to provide both LKG and UKG kids with meals, the Centre has granted approval only for UKG students.
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UKG kids being served meals at a govt school in Fazilka, Friday. (Express photo) At least 1.84 lakh children in Punjab enrolled in the upper kindergarten (UKG) section in government primary schools will now get hot, and freshly cooked meals under the Mid-Day Meal scheme (renamed PM-POSHAN by the Centre), from Friday (September 1), under the Centre’s Balvatika project.
Earlier, the meals under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme were limited to children from classes 1 to 8.
In Punjab, the government primary schools have a pre-primary section in which children aged 3 to 6 are enrolled in pre-primary-I (lower kindergarten) and pre-primary-II (upper kindergarten).
Punjab had claimed to have become the first state in the country to introduce pre-primary kindergarten classes in government schools across the state. (Express photo)
Though the state education department had proposed to extend the scheme to both LKG and UKG children, the Centre has given the approval for only “one standard lower than class 1”, i.e. UKG only, said Varinder Singh Brar, general manager, Punjab Mid-Day Meal Society.
According to the state education department, 3.84 lakh children are currently enrolled in the pre-primary section in government schools, of which 2 lakh are in LKG and 1.84 lakh are in UKG.
The order issued in this regard to all district education officers (DEOs) states that all schools having pre-primary sections should ensure that pre-primary kids (one standard lower than class 1) are served meals from September 1.
“All children enrolled in Balvatika (i.e. just before class 1) in government and government-aided primary schools are entitled for one hot cooked meal on all school days. Each child is entitled to 100 gram wheat/rice per day and the cooking cost will be Rs 5.45 per child…,” states the order.
Brar told The Indian Express that going by the 60:40 ratio shared by the Centre and the state government for the project, Punjab had proposed a budget of Rs 70.58 crore to start midday meals for all 3.84 lakh kids enrolled in the pre-primary section (both LKG and UKG) but the Centre, as per guidelines of Balvatika project, has approved the extension of the scheme for UKG kids only.
According to the state education department, 3.84 lakh children are currently enrolled in the pre-primary section in government schools, of which 2 lakh are in LKG and 1.84 lakh are in UKG. (Express photo)
“We may start midday meals for LKG classes at our own level but it is still being pondered over,” he said.
“While the cost of foodgrain (wheat and rice) and their transportation is entirely borne by the Centre, we contribute 40 per cent in cooking cost and honorarium for cooks. Punjab is also paying Rs 2,000 extra to every cook per month,” said Brar.
In November 2017, Punjab had claimed to have become the first state in the country to introduce pre-primary kindergarten classes in government schools across the state.
Although late, the Centre’s announcement of extending the PM-POSHAN scheme to pre-primary children way back in September 2021, and Punjab subsequently failing to implement it in 2022-23, the teachers felt that the move is a welcome step in the right direction.
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