The West Bengal School Education Department has granted in-principle approval to Annamrita Foundation, an affiliate of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), to provide cooked mid-day meals to government and government-aided schools across all districts of the state under the PM POSHAN scheme.
The initiative will be implemented in phases rather than launched across the state simultaneously. A notification issued on November 7 directs district administrations to support the foundation by sharing school enrolment details and helping identify suitable locations for setting up central kitchens.
The expansion follows the programme’s initial rollout in selected state-run schools in Kolkata on August 1. The state government had earlier indicated that the arrangement would gradually be extended to other districts.
District Administrations Asked to Support Implementation
Under the latest order, district authorities have been asked to provide information about school locations and student enrolment to help the foundation plan meal preparation and distribution.
Administrations will also assist in identifying suitable premises for central kitchens. These facilities are expected to support the preparation and supply of cooked meals to schools in the areas covered by each phase.
The notification makes clear that the in-principle approval does not mean statewide meal distribution will begin immediately. Once the foundation is ready to commence operations in a particular area, the necessary Letter of Acceptance will be issued in the subsequent stage.
The phased approach is intended to support logistical coordination and maintain the quality and timely delivery of meals as the programme expands.
Kolkata Rollout Preceded Statewide Expansion
The PM POSHAN arrangement began in selected Kolkata schools on August 1 through a joint initiative involving the state government and Annamrita Foundation.
The first phase reportedly covered approximately 30,000 students. The programme was subsequently expanded to include additional beneficiaries, taking the reported total to around 45,000 students.
The foundation uses centralised kitchen facilities to prepare meals, with the stated focus on hygiene, nutrition and timely delivery. The state government had indicated that the Kolkata experience would serve as a starting point for extending the arrangement to other parts of West Bengal.
Earlier Approval for Another Foundation Withdrawn
The latest decision follows an earlier change in the state’s arrangements for school meals.
In August, approval had been granted to Akshaya Patra Foundation, another organisation associated with ISKCON, to provide mid-day meals in parts of North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Purulia and East Midnapore. The approval was withdrawn in September before the proposed service began.
Annamrita Foundation, meanwhile, continued its meal programme in Kolkata. The November notification now gives it in-principle approval to expand the service across all districts.
Questions Over Infrastructure and School Responsibilities
The statewide expansion will require substantial coordination between the foundation, school authorities and district administrations. Central kitchens will need to be established or identified, while meal quantities and delivery arrangements will have to be planned according to school enrolment and location.
Swapan Mandal, general secretary of the Bengal Teachers’ and Employees’ Association, welcomed the possibility of relieving schools of the operational responsibility of preparing mid-day meals. However, he also raised concerns about whether the foundation has the infrastructure required to manage the programme across the entire state.
His remarks highlight the importance of ensuring that the expansion is supported by adequate kitchen capacity, transportation, food safety arrangements and monitoring systems.
Focus on Nutrition and Consistent Meal Delivery
The PM POSHAN scheme is intended to improve children’s nutritional status while supporting school participation and attendance. The proposed expansion seeks to shift more meal preparation and distribution responsibilities from individual schools to a centralised system.
The state government’s phased approval marks a significant expansion of Annamrita Foundation’s role in West Bengal’s school meal programme. Its implementation will depend on the readiness of central kitchens, cooperation from district authorities and the ability to deliver meals consistently across geographically diverse districts.
The district-wise rollout schedule, number of schools to be covered in each phase and operational capacity of the proposed kitchens have not yet been specified in the notification details reported so far.
Disclaimer: This report has been editorially prepared using publicly available information and official statements. Readers are advised to refer to official announcements for further details.
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