The package, involving a total allocation of Rs 639 crore, is expected to benefit nearly 51.61 lakh pre-primary and primary school students.
Photo: IANS/Representative
The Suvendu Adhikari government has approved an increase in the cooking cost per child from Rs 6.78 to Rs 10 per child under the Mid-day meal scheme, as well as raised the honorariums for cooks from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000.
The new allocations come under a series of major reforms announced under the PM-POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) scheme aimed at strengthening school education and improving nutritional support for students.
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The package, involving a total allocation of Rs 639 crore, is expected to benefit nearly 51.61 lakh pre-primary and primary school students, around 2.24 lakh cook-cum-helpers, and thousands of government schools across the state.
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Announcing the decision, the West Bengal chief minister said the reforms would enhance nutritional assistance for students, provide greater support to cook-cum-helpers, and ensure LPG connectivity in all schools under the PM-POSHAN scheme.
In a post on his official X handle, he described the measures as a significant step towards strengthening the programme.
“We have approved an enhancement in the cooking cost from Rs 6.78 to Rs 10 per child per day for 51.61 lakh pre-primary and primary students. We have also approved 100% LPG coverage in PM-POSHAN Schools by bearing the LPG installation cost at Rs 3,000 per unit. Together, these measures involving around Rs 414.63 crore will ensure safer kitchens and more nutritious meals for our children,” the chief minister wrote on X.
The Government of West Bengal has approved major measures to strengthen PM-POSHAN by enhancing nutritional support for students, providing greater support to Cook-cum-Helpers and increasing LPG coverage to all Schools.
We have approved an enhancement in the cooking cost from… pic.twitter.com/exm0ERIsK9
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) July 14, 2026
The monthly honorarium of nearly 2.24 lakh cook-cum-helpers engaged under the scheme has also been enhanced.
“Recognising the invaluable contribution of our nearly 2.24 lakh Cook-cum-Helpers, we have also approved an increase in their monthly honorarium from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000, with an additional financial support of about Rs 224 crore,” Adhikari wrote.
To modernise school kitchens and promote a safer and cleaner cooking environment, the government has decided to provide 100 percent LPG coverage in all schools under the scheme.
The entire cost of the LPG connections will be borne by the state government, with an additional allocation of Rs 2.5 crore made for the initiative.
Combined with the increased cooking cost, the government will spend Rs 414.63 crore on improving the scheme’s infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said the Rs 639-crore package reflects the government’s commitment to improving the education system and ensuring a healthier and safer future for children.
He added that investing in children’s nutrition and education today would lay the foundation for a stronger and more progressive Bengal in the years ahead.
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