ISKCON to provide midday meals in schools in Kolkata, parts of Bengal from August 1
West Bengal will begin serving ISKCON-prepared midday meals in government and aided schools from August 1, alongside a higher PM POSHAN cooking allocation. The move comes with wider education measures covering infrastructure, grants, inspections and teacher recruitment.
Students in government and government-aided schools across Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal will begin receiving ISKCON-prepared midday meals from August 1, as the state government moves to improve the quality of meals served under the PM POSHAN scheme.
Announcing the decision after a meeting with Union and state education officials, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) would supply meals while also extending financial support through subsidies.
The government has also increased the per-student cooking allocation for pre-primary and primary students from Rs 6.78 to Rs 10 per day, with the state bearing the additional Rs 3.22. The revised allocation, announced in the 2026-27 Budget, will also come into effect from August 1.
BETTER MEALS, BETTER SCHOOLS
Adhikari said the discussions focused on strengthening the education system from primary schools to universities. Alongside better nutrition, the government has outlined plans to modernise school infrastructure and improve learning conditions.
Schools will gradually shift to cooking meals using LPG, while solar panels will be installed in phases. The state also plans to ensure clean toilets, arsenic-free drinking water and adequate utensils for students in every school.
Special attention will be given to schools in Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia and Jhargram, where ceiling fans will be installed to help students cope with extreme summer temperatures.
Sanitary napkin vending machines in girls' and co-educational schools, along with Aquaguard water purifiers, are also part of the plan.
NEP, PM SHRI AND FUNDING PUSH
The Chief Minister said West Bengal has now adopted both the National Education Policy (NEP) and the PM SHRI scheme. According to him, the state expects pending central grants to be released soon after aligning with these programmes.
He added that nearly 81,000 schools would receive composite grants that had reportedly been withheld over the past three years.
FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY
Adhikari said the government would introduce amendments to align state education laws with the NEP and propose a Bill to allow chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of educational institutions to be selected from among parents or guardians.
He also announced inspections of private educational institutions to check compliance with prescribed norms and fee regulations, saying the government would not allow the commercialisation of education.
On teacher recruitment, Adhikari said the state plans to withdraw from a pending Supreme Court case related to OBC reservation issues to facilitate the recruitment of around 6,000 candidates. He added that future appointments would be carried out transparently on the basis of merit while following the reservation roster for all eligible categories.
(With PTI inputs)
Students in government and government-aided schools across Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal will begin receiving ISKCON-prepared midday meals from August 1, as the state government moves to improve the quality of meals served under the PM POSHAN scheme.
Announcing the decision after a meeting with Union and state education officials, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) would supply meals while also extending financial support through subsidies.
The government has also increased the per-student cooking allocation for pre-primary and primary students from Rs 6.78 to Rs 10 per day, with the state bearing the additional Rs 3.22. The revised allocation, announced in the 2026-27 Budget, will also come into effect from August 1.
BETTER MEALS, BETTER SCHOOLS
Adhikari said the discussions focused on strengthening the education system from primary schools to universities. Alongside better nutrition, the government has outlined plans to modernise school infrastructure and improve learning conditions.
Schools will gradually shift to cooking meals using LPG, while solar panels will be installed in phases. The state also plans to ensure clean toilets, arsenic-free drinking water and adequate utensils for students in every school.
Special attention will be given to schools in Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia and Jhargram, where ceiling fans will be installed to help students cope with extreme summer temperatures.
Sanitary napkin vending machines in girls' and co-educational schools, along with Aquaguard water purifiers, are also part of the plan.
NEP, PM SHRI AND FUNDING PUSH
The Chief Minister said West Bengal has now adopted both the National Education Policy (NEP) and the PM SHRI scheme. According to him, the state expects pending central grants to be released soon after aligning with these programmes.
He added that nearly 81,000 schools would receive composite grants that had reportedly been withheld over the past three years.
FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY
Adhikari said the government would introduce amendments to align state education laws with the NEP and propose a Bill to allow chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of educational institutions to be selected from among parents or guardians.
He also announced inspections of private educational institutions to check compliance with prescribed norms and fee regulations, saying the government would not allow the commercialisation of education.
On teacher recruitment, Adhikari said the state plans to withdraw from a pending Supreme Court case related to OBC reservation issues to facilitate the recruitment of around 6,000 candidates. He added that future appointments would be carried out transparently on the basis of merit while following the reservation roster for all eligible categories.
(With PTI inputs)
