Parliament Question: PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal) in Kolhapur

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 145 ANSWERED ON- 20.07.2026 PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal) in Kolhapur 145. Shri Shahu Shahaji Chhatrapati: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) the number of schools and beneficiaries covered under the PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal) scheme in Kolhapur district for each of the last three years; (b) the total quantity of meals served and the details of menu diversification, if any, implemented in these schools in the said district under the scheme; (c) the total Central and State funds allocated, sanctioned and utilised for implementation of PM Poshan in the Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency since 2020; and (d) the details of steps taken by the Government to improve nutritional quality, hygienic standards and infrastructure support for the scheme in the region? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) : 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 (UT) 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 UT Administrations. The State Government of Maharashtra has reported the number of schools and beneficiaries covered under the PM POSHAN Scheme in Kolhapur district for the last three years as follows: Number of Number of S.No. Year Schools Beneficiaries 1 2023-24 3029 3,64,315 2 2024-25 3021 3,55,216 3 2025-26 3011 3,25,364(b): The State Government of Maharashtra has reported that during the last three years a total of 21,43,46,159 meals were served in Kolhapur district. The States and UTs are encouraged to decide menu suitable to the local conditions within the prescribed nutrition and food norms and to procure locally grown food items like millets, vegetables, condiments etc. (c): The State Government of Maharashtra has reported the total Central and State funds allocated, sanctioned and utilised for implementation of PM Poshan in the Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency since 2020 as follows: S. Allocation (in Rs.) Utilisation (in Rs.) Year No. Central State Total Central State Total 1. 2020-21 35,54,51,573 30,12,10,340 65,66,61,913 32,95,00,708 21,68,76,853 54,63,77,561 2. 2021-22 11,09,64,211 7,95,52,823 19,05,17,034 13,69,15,076 16,38,86,310 30,08,01,386 3. 2022-23 24,35,01,239 18,60,27,059 42,95,28,298 24,35,01,239 18,60,27,059 42,95,28,298 4. 2023-24 33,82,68,043 28,30,54,015 62,13,22,058 33,82,68,043 28,30,54,015 62,13,22,058 5. 2024-25 29,55,16,353 30,89,23,064 60,44,39,417 28,02,72,866 26,10,94,348 54,13,67,214 6. 2025-26 39,52,50,886 36,93,15,340 76,45,66,226 39,35,80,143 36,57,07,200 75,92,87,343 *Unspent Balance of 2020-21 & Allocation of 2021-22 had been utilised in the Financial Year 2021- 22 (d): The Government of India has issued detailed guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene to ensure serving of good quality nutritious meal under the Scheme. These guidelines are available on official website https://pmposhan.education.gov.in . These guidelines, inter-alia, provides for instructions to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of meals, training to Cook-cum-Helpers, tasting of meals by members of School Management Committee including at least one teacher before serving the hot meal to children. The Guidelines also provides for training of Cook-cum-Helpers on nutrition, cooking processes, health and hygiene, preparation of raw grains and vegetables, recipes, serving skills etc. States/UTs are providing training to CCHs in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism, Government of India through their Institutes of Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes, FSSAI, State Agricultural Universities etc. Further, the guidelines provide for testing of food samples by Government Food Research Laboratory or any laboratory accredited or recognized by law to ensure that the meals meet nutritional standards and quality. *****