Lok Sabha Question No. 1433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Funds for Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Dungarpur and Banswara Districts
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Roat

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO1433

ANSWERED ON- 09.02.2026

## Funds for Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Dungarpur and Banswara Districts

† 1433. Shri Rajkumar Roat:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantum of money allocated under the Mid-Day Meal (PM Poshan) Scheme in the Dungarpur and Banswara districts under the Banswara Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency during the last ten years, school-wise;
- (b)  whether due to delays of budget allocations for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Dungarpur and  Banswara  district,  the  respective  Government  schools  provide  meals  to  children  on credit  and  whether  cook-cum-helpers  working  in  these  schools  have  not  been  paid  for several months, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   whether the Government intend to allocate mid-day meal funds to the said schools and pay the cook-cum-helper on time, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to  (c):  Education  is  part  of  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  and  most  of  the Government  Schools  and  School  Boards  are  under  the  administration  of  the  State Government.  PM  POSHAN  Scheme  is  implemented  in  partnership  with  the  State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The overall responsibility for providing hot and nutritious meal to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class 1) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government aided schools lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Central Government provides 100% assistance for cost of food grains, transportation cost and cost of Management Monitoring & Evaluation (MME). The State Governments and UT Administrations prepare comprehensive Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B), inter-alia, with detailed district-wise vital information on coverage of children, working days and schools; enrolment in schools; utilisation of food grains,  utilisation  of  cooking  cost,  transportation  cost,  MME,  payment  of  honorarium  to Cook-cum-Helper, construction of kitchen-cum-stores, procurement of kitchen devices etc.

The Programme Approval Board (PAB) constituted under the PM POSHAN Scheme meets at  the  beginning  of  each  financial  year  in  order  to  consider  and  sanction  the  AWP&B submitted by the State Governments and UT Administrations. Financial Assistance under PM POSHAN is provided to all States and UTs by the Central Government in accordance with the norms of the Scheme and Guideline issued by Ministry of Finance from time to time. The distribution of resources and fund allocation further downwards up to the school level  (including  schools  in  the  districts  of  Dungarpur  and  Banswara)  lies  with  the

States/UTs. Further, food-grains are allocated on the basis of number of children and number of school working days to all States/UTs.

Under the PM POSHAN Scheme, honorary Cook-Cum-Helpers (CCHs) are engaged for preparing and serving hot cooked meals at schools and are paid Rs.1,000/- per month as honorarium for 10 months in a year. Honorarium is also provided to CCHs for preparing and serving hot cooked meals in elementary schools during summer vacation in drought affected areas notified by the concerned State Governments. The honorarium expenditure is shared between  the  Central  Government  and  States  and  Union  Territories  as  per  the  approved sharing pattern.  The  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  Administrations  also supplement the honorarium by providing additional funds from their own resources.

The National Food Security Act, 2013 and the Rules, guidelines and instructions issued under the PM POSHAN Scheme from time to time, provide that every child attending an eligible institution is to be covered under the Scheme and shall be served hot cooked meals or  provided  with  Food  Security  Allowance,  as  applicable,  on  all  school  days.  However, during the year, if it is noticed by the State / UT that more funds are needed to implement the Scheme, due to increase in the attendance of children, increase in school working days or  for  any  other  reason,  they  may  approach  Government  of  India  during  the  year  with justification seeking additional Central Assistance and food grains.

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