Mangaluru: Officials and stakeholders in DK are taking steps to ensure that govt mid-day meal programmes and hostel kitchens continue to function despite concerns over an LPG shortage linked to the West Asia crisis.Authorities directed those managing the mid-day meal scheme to make sure services are not disrupted. At the same time, some private hostels also already began trimming menus and reducing food items that require more cooking gas.Jnanesh MP, executive officer, Akshara Dasoha in Dakshina Kannada, said instructions were issued by higher authorities to protect the continuity of school meal programme. He said the number of students availing meals came down temporarily due to the Ramazan period, and the upcoming SSLC examinations, but the programme would continue until the end of the academic year.“As of now, there is no shortage of LPG, but we are making arrangements in case there is any upcoming crisis in the next few days,” Jnanesh said. He added that the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department would monitor and support uninterrupted LPG supply to schools.The Akshaya Patra Foundation in Mangaluru, which supplies meals to nearly 20,000 schoolchildren under the Mangaluru South and North BEO limits, said it currently has LPG stock sufficient for about 5 days. The organisation requires around 200kg of LPG every day, to prepare meals for the children. Foundation representative Naveen Kumar said the matter was communicated to their Bengaluru headquarters, and a decision on further arrangements was expected soon.Concerns are also growing in hostels, where administrators fear supply disruptions could affect food services for students staying on campus during examination season. Dr Ramesh MR, in charge of hostels at NITK Surathkal, said a meeting was held with LPG providers, and the institution was reviewing the situation closely.Some private hostels have already started making adjustments. At Expert PU College hostels in Valachil, which house nearly 2,800 students, chapati was reduced to once a day in order to conserve cooking gas. Narendra L Nayak, chairman of the Expert Group of Institutions, said the management wrote to its LPG supplier, seeking uninterrupted delivery. He noted that many students are currently appearing for their PU board exams and will remain on campus until the NEET-UG exam in May.
