Bhubaneswar: Starting from the financial year 2025-26, students in Classes IX and X at government and government-aided secondary schools in Odisha will receive hot cooked mid-day meals.
The initiative, aimed at improving students’ nutritional levels and boosting enrollment, attendance, and retention in secondary schools, was approved by the state government after thorough deliberation.
In a letter issued on Thursday by the School & Mass Education Department to the State Nodal Officer of PM POSHAN, the department stated, “The government, after careful consideration, has been pleased to approve the proposal for providing hot cooked mid-day meals to students of Classes IX and X in government and government-aided secondary schools from the financial year 2025-26. This step will enhance the nutritional status of students while increasing enrollment, attendance, and retention in secondary schools.”
The letter further detailed that the initiative, with an estimated annual cost of Rs 570.71 crore, will be funded through the state budget under the ‘Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana.’
It added, “This proposal has been endorsed by both the Finance Department and the Planning and Convergence Department.”
