A growing LPG shortage in Maharashtra is putting pressure on kitchens that prepare midday meals for government schoolchildren. Contractors and school authorities warn that irregular gas supplies could soon disrupt daily cooking operations that feed lakhs of students across the state.
With limited LPG stock available, some schools have already started shifting to traditional cooking methods to ensure meals continue without interruption.
Why LPG Shortage Is Affecting Midday Meal Kitchens
The midday meal scheme in Maharashtra depends heavily on uninterrupted LPG supply to prepare food such as rice and dal khichadi served to students daily. Across the state, the programme operates through centralised kitchens, contractor-run kitchen sheds, and cooking facilities located within schools.
Large centralised kitchens are especially dependent on LPG because they prepare meals for thousands of children every day. According to contractors, most kitchens maintain limited gas reserves, making them vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Who Is Raising Concern and What They Demand
Contractors operating midday meal kitchens have approached the state government requesting that LPG supply be prioritised for the scheme. They argue that any prolonged shortage could directly affect the nutrition and attendance of students who rely on these meals.
The state’s midday meal system runs through thousands of school kitchens, with around 38,000 kitchen sheds sanctioned to cook and serve meals across Maharashtra.
How Centralised Kitchens Feed Thousands of Students
Rajesh Gaikwad, a member of the Centralised Kitchen Association for midday meals, said large kitchens require significant fuel for mass cooking.
Depending on capacity, a single centralised kitchen may use between four and eight LPG cylinders each day. In Pune alone, one centralised kitchen supplies khichadi to nearly 20,000 students daily.
Similar large-scale kitchens in Ahilyanagar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar also prepare meals for thousands of children across multiple schools.
Schools Switching to Traditional Cooking Methods
As LPG deliveries slowed in recent days, some rural schools have begun exploring alternative cooking arrangements.
In Haveli taluka of Pune district, a few zilla parishad schools temporarily shifted to traditional chulha-based cooking. Teachers say the change is temporary but necessary to ensure that meals continue to be served on time.
One teacher from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district said schools are managing with existing cylinders for now but may increasingly rely on firewood if supplies do not resume quickly.
Another teacher in Haveli taluka confirmed that khichadi had been prepared on a chulha for the past two days after the LPG cylinder was not replaced in time.
Why the Midday Meal Scheme Is Critical for Students
The midday meal programme plays a crucial role in improving student nutrition and increasing school attendance, especially in rural and economically weaker communities.
With schools expected to remain open for at least another month before the summer vacation, contractors and teachers say uninterrupted LPG supply is essential to maintain the programme’s daily operations.
Authorities are now being urged to prioritise LPG distribution to school kitchens to avoid disruptions that could impact lakhs of students.
