Mumbai Faces LPG Crisis That Could Disrupt School Meal Services
A critical shortage of LPG cylinders across Mumbai has begun to threaten the supply of cooked meals to thousands of students, with kitchen operators warning that school mid-day meal services could be disrupted within days if gas deliveries are not restored. The situation has raised alarms among civic authorities and education officials who fear an imminent crisis in student nutrition.
Immediate Threat to PM POSHAN Scheme Operations
BMC officials confirmed that several contractors who operate centralised kitchens under the PM POSHAN Scheme (formerly known as the midday meal program) have reported dangerously low LPG supplies needed to cook food. BMC education officer Sujata Khaire stated that operators have formally informed the civic body that they may not be able to continue preparing meals due to the non-availability of cylinders.
"This is an imminent crisis," Khaire emphasized. "Food was able to reach students today, but we don't know if it will tomorrow." She added that since the program is jointly administered by the state and central governments, the civic body has written to the concerned authorities and is urgently awaiting a response to address the supply chain breakdown.
Kitchen Operators Sound Alarm on Dwindling Supplies
Vikas Yashwente, who operates a kitchen in Govandi that supplies mid-day meals to thousands of students across the city, revealed he only has enough LPG stock to continue deliveries until Thursday. "All scheduled deliveries for the gas have been cancelled and we are being told there is simply no supply," he explained, noting that some schools have begun inquiring whether he can provide dry snacks and food items that do not require cooking, such as bhel.
A principal from a school in Khar reported that their institution has not yet faced disruption but acknowledged the situation remains highly uncertain. "We are still getting the mid-day meals and the suppliers have assured us a day or two more supply, but after that no one knows. Our school canteen is dependent on gas cylinders and even for those new orders are not being accepted. Once those run out we will come to know the true extent of the crisis," the principal stated.
Broader Impact on Student Nutrition and Attendance
A growing number of schools across Mumbai are either already facing disruptions in their food services or anticipate serious problems in the coming days. Activist Ulka Mahajan warned that any prolonged disruption could have severe consequences for student attendance and educational outcomes.
"Without food being served in schools you will see children starting to drop out, especially children of manual labourers who depend on this food for their nourishment," Mahajan cautioned. "This is a grave crisis and the government needs to find a solution and not let these kitchens shut down."
The LPG shortage affecting Mumbai's school meal services highlights the vulnerability of essential nutrition programs to supply chain disruptions and underscores the urgent need for coordinated intervention by civic, state, and central authorities to prevent thousands of students from losing access to their daily meals.
