Lok Sabha Question No. 3743 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Kitchen Infrastructure under PM POSHAN
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-

## 3743

ANSWERED ON- 16.03.2026

## Kitchen Infrastructure under PM POSHAN

3743. Shri Arun Bharti:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has approved/sanctioned enhancement of kitchen infrastructure under PM POSHAN for Jamui Lok Sabha Constituency during FY 2025-26, if so, the details of status and timeline fixed for the same block-wise;

(b)  the  physical  and  financial  progress  of  automated  kitchen  construction  in  the  said  Lok  Sabha Constituency as on January 2026;

(c) the details of allocations, releases and utilisation for PM POSHAN in Jamui during the last three financial years, block-wise;

(d) the details of completed as against sanctioned works under school nutrition garden projects in Jamui; and

(e) whether any new approvals have been proposed for Jamui for fortified rice supply integration in FY 2026-27 and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e): Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and most of the Government Schools  and  School  Boards  are  under  the  administration  of  the  State  Governments  and  Union Territory (UT) Administrations. 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 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 smooth functioning of the scheme including providing hot cooked and nutritious meal to the eligible children as well as engagement of cook-cum-helpers (CCHs) lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

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 foodgrains, utilisation of cooking cost, transportation assistance, Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (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 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) submitted by the States and UTs. Financial assistance under PM POSHAN Scheme is provided to all States and UTs by the Central Government in accordance with the norms of the Scheme and Guideline issued by the 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 Jamui Lok Sabha Constituency) lies with the States/UTs. However, during FY 2025-26, no proposals relating to strengthening of kitchen infrastructure for schools in Bihar were received as part of the Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B). Further, it is informed that food-grains are allocated on the basis of number of children and number of school working days to all States/UTs. Under the Scheme fortified rice is supplied to States/ UTs including the state of Bihar.

Regarding the School Nutrition Gardens (SNGs) the Government of Bihar has informed that 737 schools are having School Nutrition Gardens (SNGs) in Jamui parliamentary constituency.

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