Ludhiana, Feb. 3 -- For the past two months, government schools have been struggling to serve mid-day meal as funds are yet to be released, throwing the entire system into disarray. School heads have raised concerns, stating that primary schools don't have amalgamated funds, making it nearly impossible to manage expenses for vegetables, spices and gas cylinders, etc.

Sukhdhir Sekhon, head teacher of Government Primary School, Moti Nagar, said, "The mid-day meal cooking cost for December and January has not been provided yet. Managing meals for 500-1,000 students daily without funds is extremely difficult as primary schools do not even have amalgamated funds."

The cooking cost was revised in November last year, which raised the cost per ...