Students studying in government and government-aided schools across Kolkata and several other districts of West Bengal will begin receiving midday meals prepared by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) from August 1. The initiative is part of the state's efforts to improve the quality and nutritional standards of meals served under the PM POSHAN programme.

Infrastructure Improvements in Schools

Alongside better nutrition, the government has announced several measures to strengthen school infrastructure and create a healthier learning environment.

• Schools will gradually transition to LPG-based kitchens for preparing meals.
• Solar panels will be installed in phases to support sustainable energy use.
• Institutions will receive improved sanitation facilities, arsenic-free drinking water, and adequate dining utensils.
• Ceiling fans will be installed in schools located in Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, and Jhargram to help students during extreme summer conditions.
• Girls' and co-educational schools will be equipped with sanitary napkin vending machines and Aquaguard water purification systems.

Education Reforms and Funding

The state government has adopted both the National Education Policy (NEP) and the PM SHRI initiative. Following this alignment, officials expect pending financial assistance from the central government to be released.

Authorities have also indicated that nearly 81,000 schools are expected to receive composite grants that had remained pending for the past three years, providing additional support for school development.

Governance and Regulatory Changes

To align state education laws with the NEP, legislative amendments are being planned. A proposal is also being prepared to allow chairperson and vice-chairperson positions in educational institutions to be selected from among parents or guardians, encouraging greater community participation in school administration.

Private educational institutions will be subject to inspections to ensure compliance with regulatory norms and fee guidelines, with the objective of maintaining transparency and discouraging excessive commercialization.

Teacher Recruitment

The government also plans to facilitate the recruitment of approximately 6,000 teachers by withdrawing from an ongoing Supreme Court case related to OBC reservation. Future appointments are expected to follow a transparent, merit-based selection process while adhering to the applicable reservation framework.