Schools demand subsidised cylinders for mid-day meals

The Centre’s move of withdrawing subsidies on gas cylinders and restricting the number of cylinders to six a year will affect the school mid-day meal scheme, which caters to more than 1.8 crore students.

The MLA from the teachers’ constituency has placed the demand for subsidy on gas cyliders to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Government-aided schools in the city have mid-day meals and other nutrition schemes for its students. At least 12 to 15 cylinders are required for every 400 students. However, now with the government limiting the number of cylinders that can be used, the schools are in a fix.

Since they will be charged extra for using more than six cylinders, preparing the mid-day meals will become expensive for schools.

With schools not receiving non-salary grants since 2004, schools will not be able to afford the increased expenses for the meals.

On behalf of government-aided schools, MLA Ramnath Mote has demanded that the government extend a subsidy on gas cylinders to the schools.

‘’Thousands of students are fed because of this scheme. We provide food free of cost to children as they do not get enough nourishment at home. The new move will make it difficult for schools to make ends meet,’’ he said.