Rajasthan’s Pannadhay Bal Gopal Yojana is facing a major milk powder supply crisis, with only 15.73 lakh kg supplied against a demand of 37.56 lakh kg. Seventeen districts reportedly received no supply. The Education Department has ordered stock verification amid allegations that government milk powder was diverted to private mawa and sweet shops.

Jaipur: Rajasthan's mid-day meal nutrition initiative, the Pannadhay Bal Gopal Yojana, is facing a severe supply crisis. Internal records show the state is dealing with a 58% deficit in skimmed milk powder supply under the said scheme, leaving thousands of students in approximately 65,000 government schools without guaranteed nutrition.

Milk powder supply shortage

The additional chief secretary of the education department, Rajesh Yadav, in his recent letter to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, has expressed his displeasure over the short supply of the skimmed milk powder despite the demand raised by the schools well in time.

His letter clearly states that against the demand of 37,56,430 Kg of milk powder, only 15,73,815 Kg (41.90%) has been supplied to the school until the first week of August. As many as 17 districts out of 41 received no supply of the milk powder. This includes Bharatpur, the home district of CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, and several others.