Punjab schools to serve kheer and ghee halwa in mid-day meals

Chandigarh: The Punjab government has revised the mid-day meal menu for winter, introducing traditional seasonal dishes such as kheer and ghee halwa.

The Education Department has issued instructions to government schools, implementing the changes from January 8 to January 31 after the winter break.

As per the revised schedule, kheer will be served every Tuesday, ghee halwa every Thursday, and seasonal fruits such as kinnow or oranges on Fridays.

This initiative aims to incorporate a nutritious, seasonal diet for approximately 19,000 students in government schools up to Class 8. The per-child budget for mid-day meals has also been increased, from Rs 5.45 to Rs 6.19 for primary students and from Rs 8.17 to Rs 9.29 for upper primary students.

However, implementing the new menu has raised concerns among school staff managing the mid-day meal program.

Rajinder Kaur, in charge of mid-day meals at a school in Sohian Kalan, Amritsar, stated that the rising prices of ingredients like ghee, milk, and seasonal vegetables make it difficult to adhere to the budget.

“Ghee costs Rs 700-900 per kg, and the price of milk is increasing daily. Serving kheer and ghee halwa will further strain our budget,” she said.

A similar sentiment was echoed by Jit Kaur, a mid-day meal in-charge at a government school in Khilchian. She pointed out that rising costs of onions, tomatoes, and cooking oil are already impacting meal expenses.

“On average, we provide mid-day meals to 130-150 students daily. Including ghee-based dishes will only worsen the financial burden,” she explained.

The introduction of seasonal fruits under the mid-day meal scheme last year faced procurement and cost challenges, leading to its discontinuation.