Varanasi: The UP govt has achieved its target of providing quality, nutritious and hot meals to one lakh students of the Basic Education department in Varanasi. With the beginning of the new academic session 2026-27, meals prepared by Akshaya Patra Foundation under the centralised kitchen-based PM POSHAN scheme are now being served to 1,06,502 students across 850 primary and upper primary schools in the district.PM Narendra Modi had launched the scheme in Varanasi on July 7, 2022. During 2022-23 academic session, it covered 20,917 students in 167 council schools. In four years, the programme’s coverage has expanded to more than one lakh children.Chief development officer Prakhar Kumar Singh said the target of providing PM POSHAN meals through the foundation to one lakh students had been achieved. The scheme was initially introduced in Sevapuri block and subsequently expanded during the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 sessions to council schools in Harhua, Baragaon and Arajiline blocks.With the start of 2026-27 session, the service has expanded to 1,06,502 students in 850 schools. Meals are currently being served in council schools in Sevapuri, Harhua, Baragaon and Arajiline blocks, besides three major urban zones — Dashashwamedh, Trans-Varuna and Ramnagar — where the service has been operational since 2023.Basic education officer Bhupendra Singh said the coverage of the PM POSHAN scheme would be expanded further, with another 25,000 students set to be brought under the programme in a phased manner.The modern centralised kitchen established on LT College campus was built at a cost of around Rs14.02 crore. Meals are prepared using fully automated machinery. The kitchen can prepare 80,000 rotis per hour, while its large cookers can prepare 7,200 litres of dal and 1,600 kg of rice at a time. High-tech machines are also used for washing, peeling and cutting vegetables. A large cold storage facility has been established to ensure safe storage of vegetables and other food items while maintaining quality and hygiene.According to officials, 65 fixed routes have been created for timely delivery, with 65 dedicated vehicles distributing meals every day. Each vehicle covers an average distance of 40 to 60 km.The meals are packed in specially designed sealed containers to maintain quality and hygiene during transportation. Officials said the initiative is providing children with nutritious and hygienic food while contributing to improved health and nutrition, attendance, regularity and educational outcomes.
