Jaipur: Only 41.9% of the approved milk powder requirement for Rajasthan schools has been supplied in the past three months, disrupting regular milk distribution to students under the Pannadhay Bal Gopal Yojana.In districts like Bharatpur, Alwar, Udaipur, Dholpur, Deeg, Khairtal, Bundi, Nagaur, Karauli, Jaisalmer, Didwana-Kuchaman, Baran, Bikaner, Kota, Kotputli-Behror, Pali, and Pratapgarh, there has been no doorstep delivery of milk to schools for the requirement approved for April till Sept 2026.Against an education department-approved demand of 3,756.43 metric tonnes, supplies to govt schools have fallen sharply, leaving many schools without adequate stock. The scheme provides milk prepared from milk powder daily to students up to Class 8.The education department has asked the animal husbandry and dairy department to direct Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation Limited officials to ensure high-quality milk powder supplies as per approved demand within seven days. It has also sought daily monitoring of supply progress.“It is a matter of concern that even though more than three months have elapsed since the allocation was issued, progress reports indicate that the supply of milk powder in many districts has not met the requisitioned demand,” states a letter written by additional chief secretary Rajesh Yadav to the animal husbandry and dairy department on Aug 7.The education department shared that against a total approved demand of 3,756.43 metric tonnes, only 1,573.815 metric tonnes of milk powder has been supplied so far; “meanwhile, in several districts, the supply has not even commenced to date.”“The unavailability of milk powder in many schools is preventing the regular distribution of milk to students on the scheduled days. Consequently, the effective implementation of the scheme is being hampered, and obstacles are arising in the fulfilment of the state govt’s nutritional objectives,” adds the letter.“This is a highly significant and sensitive scheme of the state govt, aimed at improving the nutritional status of students and providing them with additional nutrition. Therefore, ensuring the seamless, effective, and timely operation of the scheme is crucial,” said a senior official from the education department.
