India, July 29 -- Thousands of government and aided schools across Maharashtra are facing a severe foodgrain crunch under the PM POSHAN, better known as the mid-day meal scheme, leaving teachers struggling to arrange rice and other essential items for students. Schools in most districts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Pune and Raigad regions have not received foodgrain supplies for almost three months, forcing teachers to get groceries and rice on credit from local shopkeepers in order to keep the children's mid-day meals going.

Teachers that HT spoke to said that shopkeepers were now refusing further credit since previous dues remained pending. In several schools, the unpaid credit has crossed dues for 500 kg of rice. Teachers warned that if f...