Class 9, 10 students in Odisha to get mid-day meals

The Odisha government will provide mid-day meals to class 9 and 10 students at all government and government-aided schools in the State.

According to a notification issued by the School and Mass Education department, the hot cooked mid-day meals will be provided to class 9 and 10 students from the 2025-26 financial year.

The move aims at increasing the nutritional level of the students and enhancing the enrolment, attendance and retention of students in Secondary Schools, sources said.

The total estimated financial implication amounting to Rs.570.71 crore annually will be borne from the State Budget under 'Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana'.

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“In inviting reference to the subject cited above, I am directed to say that the Government after careful consideration has been pleased to approve the proposal for the provision of hot cooked Mid-day-Meals to the students of Class-IX to X in Government and Government Aided Secondary Schools from the financial year 2025-26 to increase the nutritional level of the students and enhancing the enrolment, attendance, and retention of students in Secondary Schools,” the notification read.

“The total estimated financial implication amounting to Rs.570.71 Crore annually will be borne from the State Budget under 'Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana'. This has been concurred in by the Finance Department as well as the Planning and Convergence Department in this Department OSWAS File No. SME-EL2-EL2-0156-2024,” the notification stated.