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Mid Day Meal Scheme

4th February, 2022

Figure 3: No Copyright Infringement Intended

 

Context:

  • The central government asked states to investigate the feasibility of introducing millets under the PM POSHAN (formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme) scheme in order to improve children's nutritional status.

About Mid-Day Meal Scheme:

  • It was started in India on 15 August 1995 as ‘National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE)’.
  • It was renamed as the ‘National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools’ in October 2007, also known as the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme.
  • The Midday Meal Scheme is covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.
  • Under the MDM scheme, one meal is provided to all children enrolled in government schools, local body schools, government-aided schools, special training centres (STC), maktabs and madrasas supported under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
  • Cooked meals are provided to every child enrolled and attaining school from six to fourteen years. Meals are provided to children studying in Class I to VIII.
  • The central and state governments share the cost of the Midday Meal Scheme, with the centre providing 60 percent and the states 40 percent.
  • The central government provides grains and financing for other food. Costs for facilities, transportation, and labour is shared by the federal and state governments

Objectives of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

  • To increase the enrolment in the schools of the children who belong to disadvantaged sections of the society.
  • To increase the attendance of the children in government and government-aided schools.
  • To retain the children studying in class I to VIII.
  • To give nutritional support to the children studying in the elementary stage, especially in the drought-affected areas.
  • To address hunger and malnutrition and improve socialisation among castes.

Features of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

  • Every school should have a hygienic cooking infrastructure for hygienically cooked mid-day meals.
  • The mid-day meals are to be served only on the school premises on all working days of the school.
  • The Food and Drugs Administration Department of the State can collect samples for ensuring the quality and nutritional value of the meals.
  • The State Steering-cum Monitoring Committee (SSMC) will oversee the implementation of this scheme, including establishing a mechanism to maintain the quality and nutritional standards of the meals.
  • Food allowance is provided to the children when the cooked meals cannot be provided because of unforeseen circumstances.