AGARTALA, August 26 (TIWN) On yet another cut on its share the central government issuing a circular to the state had planned to stop repay the states for LPG cylinders for the midday-meal programme. Reacting sharp to the decision of the government at the centre state Higher Education Minister Tapan Chakroborty on Tuesday evening told reporters, “the Tripura government will oppose the move of the centre as the decision is not in favour of education.”

Chakroborty informed that the Centre has decided it would not reimburse the states for unsubsidised LPG cylinders used for Mid-Day Meal scheme, and that the cooking gas would now be available only at market price.

 “It will “adversely” impact the flagship programme,” adding Chakroborty said, “The government has recently called a high level meeting to discuss the issue.”

He said that the government in view of the recent move of the centre is planning to connect the government schools with the pipe-line gas.

On being asked Chakroborty said, “At present around 4000 schools in and around the state including the ADC areas are under the coverage of mid-day meal scheme sponsored by the then government at the centre.”

Chakroborty also pointed out that there would be no problem with the schools in rural areas of the state as they are using firewood cooking mid-day meal for the students but it would adversely affect the urban areas of the state as more than 100 government schools here are currently using LPG cylinders cooking mid-day meal.

According to a recent communication from the HRD Ministry, “Additional expenditure to be incurred by the states for procurement of unsubsidised LPG cylinders will not be reimbursed to the states with effect from April 1, 2015.”

The decision followed a Finance Ministry directive in May that LPG cylinders procured for Mid-Day Meal purpose would now be available at market price only.