Lok Sabha Question No. 68 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: PM POSHAN Scheme in Darjeeling and Kalimpong
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-68

ANSWERED ON- 01/12/2025

## PM POSHAN Scheme in Darjeeling and Kalimpong

68. Shri Raju Bista:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of schools and students currently covered under the PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) scheme in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal;
- (b) the total funds allocated, released and utilized under the scheme in these districts since 2019, year-wise;
- (c) whether the Ministry has received any reports regarding irregularities, quality issues, or interruptions in meal delivery in these districts;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to address such issues; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  expand  the  nutritional  components  or infrastructure support (such as kitchens and storage facilities) under PM POSHAN in remote and hilly regions like Darjeeling and Kalimpong and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b): Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is one of the foremost  rights  based  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  implemented  in  partnership  with  the States and Union Territories (UTs) for providing one hot cooked and nutritious meal to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class-I) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government-aided schools.  The Scheme covers about 11 crore children in more than 10.35 lakh schools in all the States/ UTs. The overall responsibility for providing hot cooked and nutritious meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. For FY 2025-26, budget allocation for the PM Poshan Scheme is Rs. 12,500 crore by Government of India and the State/ UT share as per the sharing pattern is around Rs. 8,500 crore including additional funds for Honorarium to Cook-cum-Helpers and Supplementary Nutrition items. The foodgrain allocation by Government of India is 24.15 lakh MTs which costs around Rs. 9000 crore. Thus overall allocation for the PM Poshan Scheme for FY 2025-26 is more than Rs. 30,000 crore including more than Rs. 21,500 crore made by Government of India.

The number of schools and students covered under PM POSHAN Scheme in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal is at Annexure-I. The year-wise details of total funds to Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts is at Annexure-II.

(c) & (d): Government  of  West  Bengal  informed  that  one  complaint  in  Panchabati Higher Secondary School, Darjeeling received from Sh. Raju Bista, Hon'ble MP regarding supply of less food grains than the allotted amount. Enquiry was made by Executive Director, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. The transport agency for carrying of foodgrains was show-caused  and  upon  receipt  of  their  reply  the  agreement  of  the  transport  agency  was terminated by district authority. (e): The Scheme guidelines provides for construction and repair of Kitchen-cum-Stores (KCS). Funds for construction and repair of KCS are provided to States/ UTs based on the proposal received from them. In Darjeeling district 1072 KCS and in Kalimpong district 358 KCS were  constructed.  Repair  of  13,129  Kitchen-cum-Stores  (KCS)  and  procurement  of 42171 units of Kitchen Devices was approved for FY 2024-25 to the Government of West Bengal. There is a provision of 5% of total recurring budget as the flexi component to be used by the States/UTs as per their requirement. It may be used for setting up of School Nutrition Gardens and  provision  of  Supplementary  Nutrition  interventions  in  identified  districts.  Many States/UTs also provide additional supplementary nutrition interventions such as egg, milk, chikki,  fresh  fruits,  chicken,  ragi  malt  etc.  Government  of  West  Bengal  informed  that  it provides flexi-funds for supplementary nutrition like eggs and fruits to all students including in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

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## ANNEXURE-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) AND (B) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 68 FOR 01.12.2025 ASKED BY HON'BLE MP SHRI RAJU  BISTA  REGARDING  PM  POSHAN  SCHEME  IN  DARJEELING  AND KALIMPONG.

## SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS COVERED UNDER PM POSHAN SCHEME

| District   | Total Schools   |     |   Total Students |
|------------|-----------------|-----|------------------|
| Darjeeling | 1017            |     |            20382 |
| Kalimpong  |                 | 463 |            15056 |

ANNEXURE-II

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) AND (B) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 68 FOR 01.12.2025 ASKED BY HON'BLE MP SHRI RAJU  BISTA  REGARDING  PM  POSHAN  SCHEME  IN  DARJEELING  AND KALIMPONG.

## YEAR-WISE DETAILS OF TOTAL FUNDS

| Year    | Darjeeling (Rs. In lakh)   | Darjeeling (Rs. In lakh)   | Darjeeling (Rs. In lakh)   | Kalimpong (Rs. In lakh)   | Kalimpong (Rs. In lakh)   | Kalimpong (Rs. In lakh)   |
|---------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| Year    | Approved                   | Released                   | Utilization                | Approved                  | Released                  | Utilization               |
| 2019-20 | 782.54                     | 882.33                     | 755.42                     | 453.99                    | 453.07                    | 409.07                    |
| 2020-21 | 797.84                     | 782.48                     | 755.36                     | 482.48                    | 389.38                    | 466.08                    |
| 2021-22 | 819.08                     | 726.57                     | 793.49                     | 471.25                    | 417.47                    | 464.37                    |
| 2022-23 | 755.84                     | 907.42                     | 852.84                     | 494.10                    | 536.30                    | 512.95                    |
| 2023-24 | 807.11                     | 840.36                     | 615.95                     | 521.77                    | 547.20                    | 380.97                    |
| 2024-25 | 706.40                     | 790.40                     | 682.94                     | 452.41                    | 497.76                    | 417.95                    |