Delhi schools yet to add idli-sambar to revised PM-POSHAN menu

Some Delhi government schools have not begun serving idli-sambar despite an August 24 deadline for catering agencies to introduce the dish under the revised PM-POSHAN menu.

The Directorate of Education added idli-sambar to a revised six-day menu in August and gave empanelled NGOs and centralised kitchens up to two weeks to arrange equipment, ingredients, infrastructure and trained staff. School representatives said those preparations remain incomplete at some kitchens.

At those schools, students continue to receive items from the earlier menu, including aloo puri, curry rice, halwa and dalia. A School Management Committee member said agencies serving multiple schools need to secure equipment and ingredients, plan cooking, and ensure meals reach campuses on time before introducing a new item.

The revised menu also includes poori with black chana gravy and mashed vegetables, rice with chhole, rice with dal, and rice with kadhi. It replaces ragi halwa with wheat flour and chana masala, and vegetable dalia with jowar and bajra.

Zonal and district education officers were directed to monitor compliance through inspections and random food sampling.