BMC to spend Rs 196 cr on energy bars; activists flag lack of drinking water,toilet facilities for students

The education department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come under scrutiny after it extended a scheme to provide energy bars as supplementary nutrition to students in municipal schools and allocated over Rs 196 crore funds to spend over the next 16 months.

Disapproving the move, the activists highlighted that several municipal schools lack basic facilities for students, including clean drinking water, proper infrastrucutre, and functional toilets.

The agreement, initially valid from November 25, 2025 to November 24, 2026, has been procured until March 31, 2027, as per an official statement by Anand Bhandare, an activist from Marathi Abhyas Kendra.

“This is a transaction for the purchase of energy bars worth Rs 5 crore 50 lakh 40 thousand 76. Mumbai Municipal Corporation is going to spend Rs. 196 crore 49 lakh 30 thousand 713 for this. And this order has been issued on December 13, 2025,” Anand Bhandare, said.

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'No minimum facilities for students in BMC-led schools'

He further stated that schools in Mori Road in Mahim and Mankhurd village were demolished nearly four years ago, while a school in Khindipada, Bhandup, was raised a few years ago. However, the reconstruction has not started yet.

Citing issues in municipal civic school management, Bhandare said that there are overcrowded classrooms in some establishments, with no drinking water facility, and inadequate washrooms.

Questioning the timing for the procurement of agreement by the BMC, he said: “This letter was issued two days before the election code of conduct came into effect. The date is written on the hand. That means the letter should have been ready already. Was it just that the date was put later so that it would not get caught up in the election code of conduct?”

“The students are not provided with minimum facilities. But they are going to provide energy bars. Even the word cowardice is inadequate,” he added.

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Purak Poshan Aadhar Supplementary Nutrition Scheme

The commissioner of the BMC refused to answer questions raised by the protesters during a meeting held with the delegation of the Marathi Study Centre for Marathi schools, he said.

“Even if he wants to have a simple discussion on the issues of Marathi schools, Bhushan Gagrani gives the reason for the election code of conduct. But he takes care that the election code of conduct does not come in the way while dealing with Rs 196 crores,” he added.

In addition, the BMC has announced to provide supplementary nutrition in addition to mid day meals in this year’s budget.

The education department plans to provide nutrition through the Purak Poshan Aahar (Supplementary Nutrition) scheme to students of BMC schools from nursery to standard 10th for their physical development.

For this initiative, the budget allocation includes Rs 101.37 crore for primary schools and Rs 16 crore for secondary education.