Goa's Mid-Day Meal Budget Faces ₹2.5 Crore Cut Amid Financial Constraints.

In a significant development, the Government of Goa has announced a ₹2.5 crore reduction in the mid-day meal scheme budget for the current fiscal year. This decision comes in the wake of ongoing financial challenges, including delayed payments to self-help groups (SHGs) and discrepancies in meal coverage data.As of February 2025, approximately 98 SHGs and nine Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) responsible for providing meals to over 1.60 lakh students across Goa have not received payments for the past six months. The Education Department is awaiting a ₹7 crore installment from the Centre to partially clear these dues, which have been pending since August 2024 .The ₹2.5 crore budget cut is part of broader financial adjustments aimed at balancing the state's fiscal responsibilities. While the government maintains that the quality and quantity of meals will remain unaffected, stakeholders express concern over the potential impact on the scheme's effectiveness. The Education Department has assured that steps are being taken to streamline data reporting and ensure timely payments to meal providers..