The school midday meal scheme in Kerala is facing a severe crisis due to a lack of government funding and the skyrocketing prices of vegetables. The PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) committees in government schools across the state are grappling with depleted funds after allocating significant amounts for renovation work and arrangements during the annual ‘Pravesanolsavam’ (school entrance festival).
Teachers are now struggling to find ways to sustain the school lunch programs as they face the dual challenge of dwindling finances and inflation. The future of the scheme appears grim amidst these challenging circumstances.
Preliminary estimates indicate that in order to provide lunch to students in a school with a student strength exceeding 1,000, a minimum of Rs 6 must be spent on each student every single day. The expenses escalate even further on days when milk and eggs are included in the meals.
The lack of government funding has placed a tremendous burden on the PTA committees, forcing them to explore alternative means to generate funds. Many schools have been compelled to seek donations from parents and local communities to keep the midday meal scheme operational. However, this ad hoc approach is unsustainable in the long run and does not provide a reliable solution.
The issue is further exacerbated by the exorbitant prices of vegetables in the market. The soaring costs of essential ingredients have significantly strained the budgets allocated for the midday meals. As a result, schools are finding it increasingly challenging to maintain the quality and nutritional value of the meals provided to students.
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