An amount of ₹42.84 crore is due from the Union government in the first instalment for the mid-day meal scheme, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said.
The Minister on Friday said that as per the project estimate approved by the Union government, its share in the scheme for the State in the 2023-24 year was ₹284.31 crore. If ₹32.34 crore, which was the balance from ₹292.54 crore received in 2022-23, was reduced, the State should receive a Central share of ₹251.97 crore in 2023-24. This amount should be sanctioned in two instalments of 60% and 40% as per guidelines. Accordingly, the first instalment of the Central share should be ₹151.18 crore. However, only ₹108.34 crore had been received. As in, it had reduced ₹42.84 crore from its first instalment share.
In 2022-23, Kerala had received ₹292.54 crore in all – ₹167.38 crore as the first instalment and ₹125.16 crore as the second instalment. However, the guidelines were unilaterally changed this year and the Union government decided to sanction 25% in four instalments this year.
