At a press conference in Kolkata today, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee revealed that the state’s midday meal scheme will be expanded to include an extra 100,000 students from 1 October.
The midday meal initiative provides nutritious lunches to schoolchildren, with the intent of enhancing attendance and learning outcomes. By enlarging the scheme’s reach, the government hopes to address nutritional deficits and encourage enrolment, particularly in underserved areas.
The new cohort will cover schools across West Bengal, spanning both primary and secondary institutions. The Ministry of Education will oversee the rollout, while local authorities will manage meal preparation and distribution.
This announcement follows the state’s broader push to strengthen educational infrastructure, underscoring that access to meals remains a key factor in keeping students in school and lowering dropout rates.
