📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / President's Secretariat
Education
Bihar teachers union threatens to halt midday meals from Nov 1 over unpaid dues
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patna
🗓 27 Oct 2026, 09:01 AM
👁 13
The Bihar Primary Teachers’ Association has warned that the state’s midday‑meal programme could be suspended from 1 November unless the education department clears five‑to‑six months of pending payments within a week.
The state’s midday‑meal scheme, which provides free lunches to millions of primary‑school children across Bihar, has faced a financial bottleneck as payments to participating schools have been delayed for several months.
The Bihar Primary Teachers’ Association announced that, if the education department does not release the outstanding funds covering the past five to six months within the next seven days, the union will suspend the programme from 1 November.
The association said the delay has left schools unable to purchase food supplies, jeopardising the nutrition of students who rely on the meals. It issued a formal ultimatum to the department, demanding prompt settlement of the dues.
The education department has not yet issued a public response, but officials are expected to meet the union’s deadline to avoid disruption of the scheme, which is a key component of the state’s effort to improve child health and school attendance.
The Bihar Primary Teachers’ Association announced that, if the education department does not release the outstanding funds covering the past five to six months within the next seven days, the union will suspend the programme from 1 November.
The association said the delay has left schools unable to purchase food supplies, jeopardising the nutrition of students who rely on the meals. It issued a formal ultimatum to the department, demanding prompt settlement of the dues.
The education department has not yet issued a public response, but officials are expected to meet the union’s deadline to avoid disruption of the scheme, which is a key component of the state’s effort to improve child health and school attendance.