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LPG shortage hits PM POSHAN scheme in Maharashtra, state seeks priority supply

State warns PM POSHAN scheme serving 95 lakh students may be hit if cylinders are not prioritised

lpg cylindersCanteen staff at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital serve limited snacks like sandwiches and bhel as LPG shortages force a 50% menu cut. Hostel kitchens for resident doctors and nurses across the city are nearing a total shutdown.

The Maharashtra Directorate of Primary Education has written to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited seeking priority supply of LPG cylinders for the PM POSHAN midday meal scheme, after suppliers reportedly stopped providing cylinders to self help groups that cook mid day meals for schools. Officials warned that the disruption could affect PM Poshan the daily nutrition programme that serves lakhs of students across the state.

In a letter sent on Wednesday, Director of Primary Education Sharad Gosavi said the central kitchens and schools implementing the scheme require about 1.60 to 1.70 lakh LPG cylinders every month.

“At present, due to the global war like situation, it has been informed through letters by SHGs and other organisations working in the state as well as by municipal corporations that Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Gas have prohibited the supply of LPG gas cylinders to them starting March 10,” the letter states.

It adds that the shortage could disrupt preparation of meals under the scheme. “There is a possibility that students may be deprived of nutrition meals,” the letter notes, urging the companies to prioritise LPG supply to self help groups and organisations cooking meals at school and central kitchen levels.

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Under the PM POSHAN scheme, students from Classes I to VIII in government schools are provided midday meals. In urban areas, meals are largely prepared in central kitchens run by NGOs or self help groups and then supplied to multiple schools, while in rural areas food is usually cooked at the school level.

According to the Directorate, about 95 lakh students from 86,210 schools in the state receive meals under the scheme daily. Of the 85,159 schools covered, 75,551 use LPG for cooking.

The Directorate estimates that 1,33,633 LPG cylinders are required at domestic rates for schools cooking meals on site, while 34,478 commercial cylinders are needed for central kitchens supplying food to large numbers of students.

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Mumbai requires 11,934 LPG cylinders, all at commercial rates, the highest in the state, as midday meals for all eligible schools in the city are prepared in centralised kitchens and supplied to schools. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has already written to the Directorate raising concerns over the supply disruption.

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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