Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has launched a major hygiene upgrade for Midday Meal kitchens across the state by allocating funds to replace old utensils and kitchen equipment in 53,738 government schools and madrasas. The move aims to improve food safety, enhance meal quality, and ensure better nutrition standards for lakhs of students studying in Classes 1 to 8.
According to an official order issued by the Midday Meal Commissioner, schools will now receive grants based on student enrolment to purchase new kitchen devices and utensils that have completed five years of use. Schools with up to 50 students will get Rs 10,000, institutions with 51 to 150 students will receive Rs 15,000, those with 151 to 250 students will be given Rs 20,000, and schools with 251 or more students will be eligible for up to Rs 25,000.
The decision is part of the state’s effort to strengthen hygiene standards under the Midday Meal Scheme, now operating under PM Poshan. Officials believe that replacing outdated cooking and serving equipment will help reduce contamination risks and improve the overall quality of meals served to children daily.
In an order dated April 15, Commissioner Midday Meal Vishwa Mohan Sharma stated that states and Union Territories have the flexibility to spend funds on essential kitchen devices such as stoves, chulhas, food grain storage containers, cooking utensils, and serving equipment based on actual school requirements. He also noted that there is a provision to replace these devices after five years from the date of sanction.
All district education officers have been directed to collect proposals from schools regarding the replacement of required kitchen devices and submit them to the directorate. The order clearly mentions that all requests must remain strictly within the limits of the sanctioned funds allocated to the respective schools.
In another significant relief for the scheme, the Rajasthan government has also increased the honorarium for cook-cum-helpers preparing midday meals in government schools by 10 percent from this month. They will now receive Rs 2,467 per month for up to 10 months in a year. Out of this amount, Rs 600 will be contributed by the central government, while the remaining Rs 1,867 will be provided by the state government.
The honorarium hike was announced in the Rajasthan Budget for 2026-27 and is expected to provide financial support to thousands of workers involved in preparing daily meals for schoolchildren.
With cleaner kitchens, new utensils, and improved support for cook-cum-helpers, the state government aims to make the Midday Meal Scheme more efficient, hygienic, and beneficial for students across Rajasthan.
