Kolkata: The state govt on Tuesday announced a series of initiatives to improve school infrastructure, strengthen nutrition support and promote higher education for girls, including the implementation of the Centre’s PM SHRI scheme and enhanced funding for the PM POSHAN programme.Presenting the school education department’s budget in the assembly , school education minister Dipak Burman said 68 schools have been identified under the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme, with each institution set to receive a grant of Rs 20 lakh.Launched by the Centre in 2022, the PM SHRI programme seeks to develop existing schools into model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Burman said the scheme would help create “future-ready learners” while establishing a network of schools that would serve as centres of excellence across the state’s education system.He added that, with the chief minister’s approval, additional educational institutions would also be selected for upgradation as centres of excellence beyond those covered under PM SHRI.The minister also announced significant enhancements to the PM POSHAN (midday meal) programme, which benefits nearly 1.09 crore students from pre-primary to Class VIII.Clarifying the govt’s stand on meal preparation, Burman said any eligible organisation — not just ISKCON — would be welcome to partner with the govt in providing subsidised, nutritious hot cooked meals under the scheme.To improve school infrastructure, the govt will construct more dining halls and expand clean cooking facilities. Burman said the state approved the installation of LPG units in schools, with an additional Rs 639 crore allocated in the budget for the initiative.The state has also decided to increase the material cost of meals for students in Bal Vatika (pre-primary) and primary schools from Rs 6.8 to Rs 10 per child per day, substantially enhancing nutritional support beyond the existing PM POSHAN provision.
