Maharashtra Midday Meal Programme Faces LPG Supply Crisis
Contractors operating midday meal kitchens across Maharashtra have raised serious concerns about potential disruptions in cooking meals for schoolchildren, citing a spiraling shortage of LPG cylinders that threatens the state's crucial nutrition programme.
Immediate Threat to Daily Meal Preparation
Most kitchens currently operate with limited LPG stock, and operators warn that continued irregular gas supply could soon affect the preparation of rice and dal khichadi served daily to students. The midday meal scheme, operating through a mix of centralised kitchens, contractor-run kitchen sheds, and on-premises school cooking, faces operational challenges if LPG deliveries remain inconsistent.
"Depending on the capacity, a centralised kitchen needs between four and eight LPG cylinders every day," explained Rajesh Gaikwad, a member of the Centralised Kitchen Association for midday meals. "In Pune alone, a centralised kitchen supplies khichadi to around 20,000 students daily."
Statewide Impact on Nutrition Programme
The programme relies on kitchen facilities in thousands of schools, with approximately 38,000 kitchen sheds sanctioned to cook and serve food. Large centralised kitchens, which operate in locations like Ahilyanagar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar catering to thousands of children daily, depend heavily on uninterrupted LPG supply for large-scale cooking operations.
Thousands of smaller kitchen sheds run by contractors supply meals to nearby schools, while in rural areas, the responsibility of cooking often rests with schools and local self-help groups. Kitchen operators and school teachers emphasize that a prolonged disruption could affect daily meal preparation for lakhs of students across the state.
Schools Forced to Make Alternative Arrangements
In rural schools, teachers have already begun making alternative arrangements as LPG supplies slowed in recent days. In Haveli taluka of Pune district, some zilla parishad schools have temporarily shifted to traditional cooking methods.
"So far, we managed with the available cylinders, but if the supply is delayed further, we may also cook on a chullah like some schools in western Maharashtra," said a ZP school teacher from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Another teacher from a zilla parishad school in Haveli taluka reported: "We prepared khichadi on a chullah for the last two days because the LPG cylinder has not yet been replaced. The meal must be served on time, so we have no option but to manage with firewood for now."
Contractors Appeal for Government Intervention
Midday meal contractors have formally written to the state government requesting a notification to prioritize LPG supply to their operations. They emphasize that the programme is critical for both nutrition and attendance in government schools, with schools continuing to function for at least another month before summer vacation begins.
The potential disruption comes at a time when consistent nutrition delivery is most crucial for student wellbeing and academic performance. Contractors warn that without immediate intervention to secure reliable LPG supplies, the midday meal programme's effectiveness could be seriously compromised across Maharashtra.
