Bhubaneswar, Nov 30: In a major development, Odisha government increased the material costs for midday meals in schools to 7.64 for Primary students and Rs10.94 for Upper Primary students under the PM Poshan Scheme, officials said on Saturday.

According to an official communique, the material cost has been revised from Rs 5.90 to Rs 7.64 for Primary students (Class I-IV) and from Rs 7.64 to Rs 10.94 for Upper Primary students (Class-VI-VIII) w.e.f. December 1, 2024.

“The day-to-day expenditure is to be made on the prevailing market price, availability of seasonal vegetables, keeping the average cost of expenditure to Rs7.64 for Primary students and Rs 10.94 for upper Primary students. Hence the management authority will have flexibility over the items and ingredients of PM Poshan meal expenditure subject to the condition that the average unit cost is not exceeded,” reads the official letter.

The All Utkal Primary Teachers Association had been demanding hike in the price of MDM. The last revision of the meal cost was carried out in October, 2022.

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