Kohima, Sept. 7: The Nagaland government has expressed its inability to revert to the original format of the midday meal scheme, citing financial constraints.

In a letter to the Union human resource development ministry in July, the Neiphiu Rio government said it required Rs 70.4 crore to implement the scheme in accordance with the original guidelines.

The government has been providing money instead of food to the village education committees to implement the scheme. The system has been in operation since the Centre authorised the state government, through a notification dated December 18, to make a departure from the guidelines for the scheme.

However, the Supreme Court recently ruled that the original scheme should be implemented.

The Nagaland education department subsequently informed the Union human resource development ministry that the state required Rs 54.28 for recurring expenditure and another Rs 16.18 crore to meet the non-recurring expenses.

Under the midday meal scheme, a student is entitled to receive 100 grams of rice everyday, which costs the exchequer 60 paise. Officials say collecting the rice from Food Corporation of India warehouses and sending them to villages is not a feasible exercise. Another argument is that most Naga people have a heavy breakfast comprising rice and skip lunch at noon.

Liquor deaths: Two persons have died after consuming country liquor blended with toxic materials in North Tripura, reports our special correspondent from Agartala. Subodh Nama and Gopal Nama from Dudh Pukur village in North Tripura died after consuming the spurious liquor at friend Ajay Chakraborty’s residence.