**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1433 regarding the funds for the Mid-Day Meal (PM Poshan) Scheme in the Dungarpur and Banswara districts. The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, addresses the allocation of funds, delays in budget allocations, and payment of cook-cum-helpers. It also highlights the responsibilities of state governments in the implementation of the scheme. The question was answered on 09.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Implementation:**
* The PM POSHAN Scheme is implemented in partnership between the Central Government, State Governments, and Union Territory Administrations.
* State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for providing hot, nutritious meals to children in Bal Vatika and classes I-VIII in government and government-aided schools.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* The Central Government provides 100% assistance for the cost of food grains, transportation, and Management Monitoring & Evaluation (MME).
* 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.
* Food-grains are allocated on the basis of number of children and number of school working days to all States/UTs.
* **Planning and Budgeting:**
* State Governments and UT Administrations prepare an Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) that includes district-wise information on coverage, enrolment, food grain utilization, costs, and honorariums.
* The Programme Approval Board (PAB) sanctions the AWP&B submitted by State Governments and UT Administrations at the beginning of each financial year.
* **Cook-cum-Helpers (CCHs):**
* CCHs are engaged for meal preparation and service and are paid an honorarium of Rs. 1,000 per month for 10 months a year.
* Honorarium expenditure is shared between the Central Government, States, and UTs, and can be supplemented by State Governments/UTs.
* **Food Security and Additional Assistance:**
* The National Food Security Act, 2013 ensures every eligible child receives hot cooked meals or a Food Security Allowance on all school days.
* States/UTs can request additional Central Assistance and food grains if needed due to increased attendance or working days, with justification.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for implementing the PM POSHAN Scheme, managing schools, and ensuring meals are provided. They also need to prepare and submit the AWP&B.
* **Action Required:** Plan and budget effectively, ensure timely payment of cook-cum-helpers, monitor the scheme's implementation, and request additional funds if necessary.
**Schools (including those in Dungarpur and Banswara)**
* **Impact:** The scheme impacts their ability to provide meals to students. Timely allocation of funds is crucial for the smooth operation of the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Utilize allocated funds efficiently, manage meal programs effectively, and ensure accurate reporting.
**Cook-cum-Helpers**
* **Impact:** Their livelihood depends on timely payment of honorariums.
* **Action Required:** Continue providing meal services and report any issues with payments.
**Students**
* **Impact:** Ensures they receive hot and nutritious meals during school.
* **Action Required:** Attend School and avail of the meals.
**Central Government**
* **Impact:** It has responsibility for funding, setting policy and monitoring scheme implementation.
* **Action Required:** Provide the funding and resources to states and UT's in accordance with guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
PM POSHAN Scheme: A scheme to provide hot cooked meals to children in government and government-aided schools.
Ministry of Education: The ministry responsible for implementing the PM POSHAN Scheme at the central level.
Dungarpur and Banswara Districts: The specific districts for which funds under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme are being discussed in the question.
National Food Security Act, 2013: The act that provides the legal framework for food security, including mid-day meals.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1433
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 theStates/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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