Balvatika scheme: Punjab proposes extension of mid-day meal to 3 lakh pre-primary kids

In November 2017, Punjab had claimed to have become the first state in the country to introduce pre-primary kindergarten classes in government primary schools across the state. Currently over 3 lakh kids are enrolled in LKG and UKG sections in government primary schools. The mid day meals, however at present, are only served to students in class 1 to 8.

“The state education department has allocated a budget of Rs 70.58 crore for 2023-24 to start mid-day meals for pre-primary children. The proposal will be presented before the Centre in a meeting scheduled in Delhi on April 20,” said Varinder Singh Brar, general manager, Punjab mid-day meal society, which functions under the state education department.

Going by the 60:40 ratio shared by Centre and state for the scheme, Punjab is expecting Rs 37.85 crore from the Union government for the scheme, with the remaining share of Rs 32.73 crore coming out of the state’s coffer. The state education department is expecting enrollment in pre-primary to reach 3.82 lakh in the new session.

“While the cost of foodgrains (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. The Centre had asked for the proposed budget under Balvatika project to extend mid-day meals to pre-primary schools and it will be presented for approval in a meeting at Delhi scheduled later this month,” said Brar.
Although late — with the Centre having announced the extension of PM-POSHAN scheme to pre-primary children way back in September 2021, but Punjab subsequently failing to implement it in 2022-23 — teachers in government schools felt that the move will be a welcome step in the right direction.

“Right now, we feel very bad when class 1 to 8 kids sit to have a meal but the younger ones in pre-primary are not given the same. We have seen kids who get the meal trying to save some food for their siblings. We try to give meals to pre-primary kids on days surplus food is cooked. But it is not possible everyday,” said a teacher.

Bananas to check malnutrition: A plan on papers

Meanwhile, Punjab has again proposed a budget of Rs 4.59 crore to provide bananas twice a week to 86,771 children in Moga and Ferozepur — the two districts selected under the “Aspirational Districts” programme of NITI Aayog.
Last year, the state had been pulled up by the Centre for “failing to provide supplementary nutrition” to children in Moga and Ferozepur, where the government had proposed to give multi-grain millet chikkis (peanut bars) and bananas to children, but ultimately failing to do so due to a paucity of funds.

The Programme Approval Board (PAB) of the Centre, in its comments for Punjab last year, had observed, “It is observed that the state did not provide the supplementary nutrition under flexi fund component, even though it was approved by PAB in 2021-22. PAB advised the state to see the feasibility of providing supplementary nutrition to children, especially in aspirational districts and districts having a high prevalence of malnutrition.”