Mumbai Teachers Protest FDA Rules on Midday Meal Licences in Jogeshwari

School principals and educators staged a demonstration at the education inspector’s office in Jogeshwari, Mumbai, to protest against proposed Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations concerning midday meals.

The protest was organised by Shikshak Sena, a teachers' union affiliated with the Shiv Sena (UBT). Multiple educators gathered at the Jogeshwari administrative office to raise their concerns over the state government's proposed framework.

The agitation follows plans by the Maharashtra FDA to tighten oversight on school nutrition standards. Under the anticipated rules, school principals fear they will be forced to shoulder the sole responsibility for securing and managing food licences for school midday meal programmes.

Demonstrating principals stated that being tasked with the sole legal and regulatory compliance for food licences represents a significant burden. They noted that managing these licences would create a major additional task alongside their existing academic and administrative responsibilities in schools.