SRINAGAR: As many as 17,954 government schools in Jammu and Kashmir are preparing and serving meals under the PM-POSHAN scheme, while the Union Ministry of Education has not specified any timeframe for registering all such schools with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The figures were provided by the Ministry of Education in a written reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2388, answered on Monday, regarding the serving of mid-day meals under PM-POSHAN.
According to the annexure, Jammu and Kashmir has 17,954 schools covered under the scheme. In neighbouring Ladakh, meals are being served in 775 schools.
Across the country, the highest number of schools covered under PM-POSHAN is in Uttar Pradesh at 1,41,703, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 87,492, Maharashtra with 85,206, West Bengal with 81,012, Bihar with 68,899 and Rajasthan with 68,239 schools.
The Ministry, however, did not provide State/UT-wise figures in the reply showing how many of these schools are registered with FSSAI.
It said education is a subject on the Concurrent List of the Constitution, with most government schools and school boards administered by State governments and Union Territory administrations. The PM-POSHAN scheme is implemented in partnership with the States and UTs.
The overall responsibility for providing hot and nutritious meals to children studying in Bal Vatika, just before Class I, and Classes I to VIII in government and government-aided schools rests with the respective State governments and UT administrations, the Ministry said.
The Centre said it has issued detailed guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene to ensure that children receive good-quality and nutritious meals under the scheme.
It further stated that States and UTs provide training to Cook-cum-Helpers (CCHs) in collaboration with institutions including Institutes of Hotel Management, Food Craft Institutes, FSSAI and State Agricultural Universities.
The Ministry did not commit to a specific deadline for ensuring that all schools serving PM-POSHAN meals are registered with FSSAI, with the reply focusing on the existing guidelines and the responsibilities of States and UTs in implementing the scheme.
