BEIJING - The Chinese central government has allocated 7.63 billion yuan ($1.21 billion) in meal subsidies to improve the nutrition of rural elementary and junior middle school students, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday.

The subsidies will benefit 25.42 million rural students, according to the statement posted on the ministry's website.

The ministry said the money should only be used for providing nourishing meals to rural students during the spring semester, urging local authorities to properly manage the funds and not misappropriate them.

China started a nutrition improvement program in 680 poor counties in 2011. Under the program, each rural student in the nine-year compulsory education period in the 680 counties is entitled to a 3-yuan meal subsidy per day.