The oil companies have restricted the number of domestic gas refills to nine a year, even to government schools and Integrated Child Development Schemes centres. The mid-day meal programme in the state is likely to continue without any hiccups as the state government has decided to bear the extra cost.
The additional refills cost Rs 750 per refill. According to government sources, since there are a large number of students in government schools, each institution uses one refill per 20 days. In case of Anganwadi centres where the number of students is less, one refill is used every month. Therefore, the government has to bear the extra cost for three to nine gas refills.
When contacted, women and child welfare minister V Sunita Lakshma Reddy said, “The government will bear the extra cost in order to continue the programmes,” she added. The oil companies also put a ceiling for daily meal schemes (Nityannadanam) implemented in temples and other places.