MID DAY MEALS SCHEME
History & Origin of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in India
Timeline of Key Milestones:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1925 | First introduced by the Madras Corporation for poor children in urban areas. |
| 1962–63 | Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and other states launched their own school feeding programs. |
| 1995 (15 August) | National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) launched by Government of India. It aimed to boost enrollment, retention, and attendance. |
| 2001 | The Supreme Court made mid-day meals a constitutional right under Article 21 (Right to Life), directing all government & aided schools to provide hot cooked meals. |
| 2004 | Expanded to cover upper primary students (Classes VI–VIII) in 3,479 Educationally Backward Blocks. |
| 2007 | Extended to all upper primary students across the country. |
| 2013 | Became part of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as a legal entitlement for children aged 6–14. |
| 2021–22 | Renamed as PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme. Now covers students from Classes I to VIII in all government and government-aided schools. |
Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Telangana
After formation of Telangana (2014 onwards):
The new state adopted the national scheme and began to innovate and expand it. Key features include:
Beneficiaries:
-
Students from Classes I to X in:
-
Government schools
-
Government-aided schools
-
Special Training Centers
-
Madarsas supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
-
Implementing Agencies:
-
School Education Department, Telangana
-
Meals are cooked and served at school level by:
-
Self Help Groups (SHGs)
-
Cook-cum-helpers recruited under norms
1) The Head Master is supervising the Mid Day Meals daily.
2) The Teachers are taking care and supervising the students at the time of serving mid day meals.
3) Inspecting Officers are visiting the schools and monitoring the implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme regularly.
-
KItchen sheds :
Kitchen cum stores with Plinth area of 155 sft with unit cost of Rs. 2.5 lakhs & Rs. 2 lakhs based on enrolment.
Nutritional Norms & Menu (as per PM-POSHAN norms)
| Class Group | Calories/Day | Protein/Day |
|---|---|---|
| I – V (Primary) | 450 kcal | 12 grams |
| VI – VIII (Upper Primary) | 700 kcal | 20 grams |
| IX – X (Telangana Extended) | State-specific norms followed |
Weekly Menu Sample (Telangana Example):
Funding Pattern
| Source | Primary (I–V) | Upper Primary (VI–VIII) |
|---|---|---|
| Central Government | 60% | 60% |
| State Government (Telangana) | 40% | 40% |
-
Honorarium to Cooks: ₹3000/- per month
₹1,000 per month per cook (shared by Center & State) and additional ₹2000/- per month provided by Telangana government
-
Additional State Allocation: Telangana provides more items (eggs, millets) not mandated by the center.
Recent Innovations by Telangana
-
Millet Meals Introduction:
-
Introduced millets like jowar, bajra, ragi into weekly menu
-
Healthier & supports local farmers
-
-
Breakfast Scheme (CM's Breakfast Program) (Proposed 2023–24):
-
Free breakfast for Classes I to X
-
Aimed to reduce morning hunger, improve attention and learning
-
-
Expansion to Junior Colleges (2024–25 Plan):
-
425 Govt. Junior Colleges to get MDM facility
-
Covers 1.7 lakh Inter students
-
-
Digitized Monitoring (Real-time App-based):
-
Attendance & meal records maintained via mobile apps
-
Reduces misuse & improves tracking
-
Challenges Faced in Telangana
-
Low budget per child (₹8.69 to ₹11.79) despite inflation
-
Delayed payments to cooks and suppliers
-
Poor kitchen infrastructure in some rural schools
-
Decreasing student participation in some districts due to food quality and irregularity
Outcomes & Impact
-
Improved enrollment & retention, especially among girls and disadvantaged groups
-
Reduced classroom hunger, enabling better focus in learning
-
Encouraged nutritional awareness among students and families
-
Created employment for thousands of rural women (cook-cum-helpers)
Summary
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, now called PM POSHAN, has evolved into a critical program for child nutrition and school retention across India. Telangana has shown leadership by:
-
Expanding meals up to Class X and Inter students
-
Including millet and egg-based nutrition
-
Planning a separate Breakfast Scheme
Despite challenges, the scheme continues to impact lakhs of students positively, reducing malnutrition and boosting education access.
No comments:
Post a Comment