The Crossbill News Desk
West Bengal has witnessed a sharp decline in student participation under the PM-POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal) scheme, raising concerns about a growing dropout rate in the state’s school system.
Data from the Programme Approval Board (PAB) under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman indicates that nearly 10 lakh fewer students are expected to avail of the scheme in 2025–26 compared to 2023–24, The Indian Express reported.
According to the minutes of the latest PAB meeting, the number of students enrolled under the scheme fell by 4.01 lakh between 2023–24 and 2024–25, while actual coverage declined by 8.04 lakh during the same period.
For 2025–26, the state's projected enrolment has fallen further by around 6 lakh. The data reveals that in 2024–25, of the 1.13 crore students enrolled, only 77.9 lakh — about 69% — actually received mid-day meals.
Fifteen districts reported over 40% of students not availing of the scheme, with Cooch Behar registering the lowest coverage at just 46%.
Other districts with similarly low coverage include Jalpaiguri, Malda, Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman, and North 24 Parganas.
The PAB flagged this downward trend with “serious concern” and has asked the West Bengal government to submit a detailed report by June 30. The Board also urged the state to intensify efforts to ensure that all eligible children are covered under the scheme.
Disparities were also noted across educational levels: while coverage at the pre-primary and primary levels stood at 78% and 74% respectively, it dropped significantly at the upper primary level to just 58%.
The meeting minutes further highlight issues in financial management.
"The PAB expressed concern that some schools, implementing agencies, and municipal corporations are still holding funds outside the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts. The state has been advised to transfer these funds immediately and take action against officials responsible for the delays and violations of Government of India guidelines," mintues notes read, reported the newspaper.
The state has been directed to immediately transfer such funds to the SNA account and take disciplinary action against officials responsible for delays.
Officials in the West Bengal School Education Department cited rising dropout rates, especially at the upper primary level, as the primary reason for declining coverage.
One senior official noted that inflated enrolment figures may have previously helped secure more funds, but actual participation suggests a worsening dropout crisis.
"It is common practice to avail maximum funds. Sometimes the state gives increased numbers as enrolled students. But, in this case, the actual number of students is much less, which means dropout rates have increased in the state education system," the office said.
Contributing factors, according to the official, include prolonged school closures, a shrinking academic calendar, and a growing teacher-student ratio due to unfilled vacancies — all of which are pushing students out of the system.
Data from the Programme Approval Board (PAB) under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman indicates that nearly 10 lakh fewer students are expected to avail of the scheme in 2025–26 compared to 2023–24, The Indian Express reported.
According to the minutes of the latest PAB meeting, the number of students enrolled under the scheme fell by 4.01 lakh between 2023–24 and 2024–25, while actual coverage declined by 8.04 lakh during the same period.
For 2025–26, the state's projected enrolment has fallen further by around 6 lakh. The data reveals that in 2024–25, of the 1.13 crore students enrolled, only 77.9 lakh — about 69% — actually received mid-day meals.
Fifteen districts reported over 40% of students not availing of the scheme, with Cooch Behar registering the lowest coverage at just 46%.
Other districts with similarly low coverage include Jalpaiguri, Malda, Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman, and North 24 Parganas.
The PAB flagged this downward trend with “serious concern” and has asked the West Bengal government to submit a detailed report by June 30. The Board also urged the state to intensify efforts to ensure that all eligible children are covered under the scheme.
Disparities were also noted across educational levels: while coverage at the pre-primary and primary levels stood at 78% and 74% respectively, it dropped significantly at the upper primary level to just 58%.
The meeting minutes further highlight issues in financial management.
"The PAB expressed concern that some schools, implementing agencies, and municipal corporations are still holding funds outside the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts. The state has been advised to transfer these funds immediately and take action against officials responsible for the delays and violations of Government of India guidelines," mintues notes read, reported the newspaper.
The state has been directed to immediately transfer such funds to the SNA account and take disciplinary action against officials responsible for delays.
Officials in the West Bengal School Education Department cited rising dropout rates, especially at the upper primary level, as the primary reason for declining coverage.
One senior official noted that inflated enrolment figures may have previously helped secure more funds, but actual participation suggests a worsening dropout crisis.
"It is common practice to avail maximum funds. Sometimes the state gives increased numbers as enrolled students. But, in this case, the actual number of students is much less, which means dropout rates have increased in the state education system," the office said.
Contributing factors, according to the official, include prolonged school closures, a shrinking academic calendar, and a growing teacher-student ratio due to unfilled vacancies — all of which are pushing students out of the system.
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