The programme approval board (PAB) under the Union Ministry of Education has expressed concern that total enrolment in Punjab schools covered under the scheme fell by nine per cent — from 19.10 lakh in 2024-25 to 17.34 lakh in 2025-26. The average student coverage also declined by 10 per cent to 13.66 lakh.The sharpest drop was recorded in pre-primary classes, where both enrolment and coverage fell by over 30 per cent. Primary and upper primary segments saw declines of seven-eight per cent.The board has asked the state to urgently ascertain the reasons for the drop and take corrective measures.The ministry has approved an Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) of Rs 352.39 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme in Punjab for 2026-27, with the central share pegged at Rs 220.49 crore and the minimum mandatory state share at Rs 131.90 crore.The approval was given by the Programme Approval Board (PAB) in a virtual meeting chaired by Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar, on May 16. The minutes were issued on May 25.Physical approvals include coverage for 14.55 lakh students across Bal Vatika (86,120), primary (8.52 lakh) and upper primary (5.17 lakh) classes for 245 working days. The state has also been sanctioned 45,200 cook-cum-helpers.Component-wise, the largest chunk goes to material cost (Rs 284.61 crore), followed by honorarium to cook-cum-helpers (Rs 45.20 crore), foodgrains (Rs 10.49 crore for 41,977 MT), transportation assistance (Rs 6.30 crore) and management, monitoring and evaluation (MME) at Rs 5.80 crore. An additional flexi component of Rs 17.62 crore has been approved, which includes provision of millets bars or bananas for students.The central assistance figure includes a tentative unspent balance of Rs 23 crore as on March 31, 2026.Working days shortfall and other issuesPunjab covered only 218 working days against the approved 245 in 2025-26. The state attributed the shortfall to school closures due to heatwave in May and heavy floods in August.The PAB directed the state to ensure hot cooked meals are served on all school working days to every eligible child.Utilisation of transportation assistance was only 50% of the annual allocation. The Board expressed concern and asked for timely payments.Key directives issuedComplete 100 per cent Aadhaar authentication of students in biometric mode (currently 87 per cent is demographic) and update data monthly on the MIS portal.Intensify efforts to develop School Nutrition Gardens in all schools.Promote Tithi Bhojan to encourage community participation and provide additional nutrition.Maintain uninterrupted supply of hot cooked meals even in case of delays in fund release or foodgrain supply.The Board observed that performance on several other indicators — including 100 per cent health check-ups, IFA and deworming coverage, LPG in all schools, and kitchen-cum-stores and devices — remains satisfactory.Implementation pushThe Ministry has clarified that every eligible child must receive a hot cooked meal or Food Security Allowance on all school days, irrespective of PAB approvals. States have been told to disseminate the approvals to all field functionaries so that no child is left out.Punjab has also been advised that it can supplement the scheme with additional funds from its own resources if required.The approved plan will support mid-day meals in 19,557 schools across the state, benefiting over 14.55 lakh children daily during the academic year.