LPG Cylinder Shortage Threatens Mid-Day Meal Preparation in Ludhiana Schools
Government schools across Ludhiana district are grappling with a severe LPG cylinder shortage that is disrupting the preparation of mid-day meals for thousands of students. Officials from various schools have raised urgent concerns about supply disruptions affecting the critical nutritional program, which continues even during final examinations.
Schools Struggle with Failed Booking Attempts
Several schools reported being unable to book cylinders despite repeated attempts, creating uncertainty about how they will manage once existing stocks run out. Most institutions require at least five gas cylinders per month to meet daily cooking requirements for students from pre-primary to Class VIII. The ongoing supply disruption has placed school administrators under considerable stress as they attempt to maintain the mandated meal service.
A primary government school head in Ludhiana revealed that with approximately 500 students enrolled under the mid-day meal scheme, their institution requires about five cylinders monthly. "We have been trying to book a cylinder for the past two days without receiving any confirmation," the official stated. "The delay has raised serious concerns about whether we will be able to continue uninterrupted meal preparation for the coming week."
Financial Grants May Prove Ineffective Without Supply
Ludhiana district has 1,581 government schools, all of which receive monthly grants to operate the mid-day meal scheme. For February, schools received approximately Rs 2.77 crore as cooking cost grants and an additional Rs 1.25 crore for salaries of cooks engaged in meal preparation. While these funds are typically used to purchase LPG cylinders as needed, school officials fear the grants may prove ineffective if new bookings cannot be confirmed due to supply disruptions.
Block-Wise Data Collection Reveals Extensive Requirements
Following directions from the education department, schools across the district have submitted their monthly LPG requirements block-wise through Google Forms. The collected data reveals heavy dependence on domestic cylinders:
- Ludhiana-1 block (87 schools): 500 domestic cylinders and 5 commercial cylinders
- Ludhiana-2 block (104 schools): 328 domestic cylinders and 0 commercial cylinders
- Khanna-2 block (86 schools): 145 domestic cylinders
- Jagraon block (82 schools): 148 domestic cylinders per month
Department Response and Current Status
Davinder Kaur, in charge of mid-day meals in Ludhiana, confirmed that the department has received instructions from the head office to collect LPG requirement data from schools on priority. "Schools have been notified to update their requirements through Google Forms, and the process is currently underway," she explained. "The information will soon be shared with the state head office for appropriate action."
Kaur added that, so far, no school has reported completely exhausting their cylinder stocks, and higher authorities are planning accordingly to address the emerging concerns. However, the situation remains precarious as schools continue to face booking difficulties while attempting to maintain the essential meal service that provides daily nutritional support to students.
The mid-day meal program represents a crucial component of educational support in government schools, and its disruption due to LPG shortages could have significant implications for student nutrition and school operations throughout Ludhiana district.
