Key Facts
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on July 14, 2026, that ISKCON will start supplying midday meals to schools in Kolkata and other parts of the state from August 1. The announcement came after a meeting with state education ministers and senior officials of the Union Ministry of Education. Additionally, the per-student cooking cost under the PM POSHAN scheme has been increased from ₹6.78 to ₹10, with the state government bearing the extra ₹3.22.
Details of the Midday Meal Initiative
Speaking to reporters at Bikash Bhavan, Adhikari stated that ISKCON will provide high-quality meals and also offer a subsidy. The meals will be cooked using gas, and solar panels will be installed gradually in schools. The government also plans to ensure clean toilets, arsenic-free drinking water, and proper utensils for students. The enhanced cooking cost will apply to pre-primary and primary students in government and government-aided schools.
Impact on Education Sector
The meeting, attended by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar, State School Education Minister Dipak Barman, and Higher and Technical Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay, covered various aspects of education from primary to university level. Adhikari confirmed that West Bengal has joined the National Education Policy (NEP) and the PM SHRI scheme. He expects the central grant for this financial year to be released within a week, after a three-year delay due to the previous government's policies.
Infrastructure and Welfare Measures
Around 81,000 schools have been identified to receive composite grants that were withheld for three years. Fans will be installed in schools in Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, and Jhargram districts to combat extreme summer heat. Sanitary napkin vending machines will be provided in girls' schools and co-educational institutions, along with Aquaguard water purifiers.
What Readers Should Know
- The PM POSHAN scheme aims to improve nutrition, encourage school attendance, and reduce classroom hunger.
- The state government will bear the additional cost of ₹3.22 per student per day.
- Private educational institutions will be inspected to prevent commercialisation of education.
- The government plans to amend laws to align with NEP, including selecting chairpersons from among guardians, a system already in place in 21 states.
- Recruitment of around 6,000 candidates will be expedited by withdrawing from a pending Supreme Court case related to OBC reservations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will ISKCON start supplying midday meals in West Bengal schools?
ISKCON will begin supplying midday meals from August 1, 2026, initially in Kolkata and other parts of the state.
What is the new cooking cost per student under PM POSHAN in West Bengal?
The cooking cost has been increased from ₹6.78 to ₹10 per student per day, effective August 1, 2026. The state government will bear the additional ₹3.22.
Which districts in West Bengal will get fans in schools?
Fans will be installed in schools in Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, and Jhargram districts to combat extreme heat.
What steps are being taken to prevent commercialisation of education?
The government will inspect private educational institutions and universities that have been granted no-objection certificates. Only those following prescribed norms and regulated fees will be allowed to continue.