Mid-Day Meal Scheme | General Awareness for SSC CGL PDF Download

Introduction

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), launched in 1995 by the Government of India, is a flagship school feeding program aimed at improving the nutritional status of schoolchildren and promoting universal education. Administered by the Ministry of Education (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development), the scheme provides free, nutritious meals to children in government and government-aided schools, as well as in schools run under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and madrasas. MDMS addresses hunger, malnutrition, and school attendance, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 4 (Quality Education).

Objectives of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

1. Improve Nutritional Status: Provide balanced, nutritious meals to combat malnutrition among schoolchildren.
2. Enhance School Enrollment: Encourage children, especially from disadvantaged groups, to attend school regularly.
3. Reduce Dropout Rates: Retain children in schools by addressing hunger and incentivizing attendance.
4. Promote Social Equity: Foster social integration by serving meals to children from diverse backgrounds together.
5. Support Education Outcomes: Improve concentration and learning capacity by addressing hunger in classrooms.
6. Empower Local Communities: Engage local women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in meal preparation and management.

Key Features of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Target Beneficiaries:

• Children in Classes 1-8 (ages 6-14) in government, government-aided schools, and local body schools.
• Covers students under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, National Child Labour Projects, and madrasas supported under Samagra Shiksha.
• Special focus on marginalized groups, including SC/ST, girls, and children from economically weaker sections.

Nutritional Norms:

• Meals provide a minimum of:
  • Primary (Classes 1-5): 450 calories, 12 grams of protein per meal.
  • Upper Primary (Classes 6-8): 700 calories, 20 grams of protein per meal.
• Includes cereals (rice/wheat), pulses, vegetables, oil/fats, and micronutrients (e.g., fortified salt).
• Weekly menu varies by state, incorporating local foods like millets and pulses.

Coverage:

• Over 11.8 crore children across 11.5 lakh schools benefit daily (as of 2023).
• Covers both rural and urban areas, with priority for aspirational districts.

Funding:

• Shared funding between Central and State Governments (60:40 for general states; 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states; 100% Central for Union Territories).
• Central Government provides:
  • Free food grains (100g/child/day for primary, 150g/child/day for upper primary) through the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
  • Cooking costs (₹5.45 for primary, ₹8.17 for upper primary as of 2023).
  • Honorarium for cooks-cum-helpers (₹1,000/month).
• Annual budget of approximately ₹11,500 crore.

Implementation Mechanism:

• Meals prepared in school kitchens or by centralized kitchens (in urban areas).
• Over 25 lakh cooks-cum-helpers (mostly women) employed for meal preparation.
• School Management Committees (SMCs) and Gram Panchayats monitor implementation.

Health and Hygiene:

• Mandatory handwashing and hygiene practices before meals.
• Regular health check-ups and micronutrient supplementation (e.g., iron, folic acid) in convergence with NHM.
• Kitchen sheds equipped with clean water and sanitation facilities, linked to Jal Jeevan Mission.

Convergence with Other Schemes:

• Integration with Poshan Abhiyaan for nutrition monitoring and dietary diversity.
• Collaboration with National Health Mission (NHM) for health check-ups and immunization.
• Linkages with Samagra Shiksha for school infrastructure and education outcomes.
• Alignment with PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (upgraded MDMS) for enhanced nutrition.

PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (2021):

• Upgraded version of MDMS, approved for 2021-26, with a focus on:
  • Fortified foods (e.g., fortified rice with iron, vitamin B12).
  • Nutrition gardens (Poshan Vatikas) in schools to grow vegetables.
  • Involvement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for local sourcing.
  • Digital monitoring via dashboards and mobile apps.

Monitoring and Quality Control:

• School-level monitoring by SMCs, teachers, and parents.
• District and state-level committees ensure quality and timely delivery.
• Food safety audits and third-party evaluations for compliance with nutritional standards.

Community Participation:

• Engagement of SHGs, NGOs, and local communities in meal preparation and monitoring.
• Awareness campaigns to promote hygiene and nutritional benefits.

Implementation Structure

Central Level:

• Ministry of Education oversees MDMS under the PM Poshan Shakti Nirman framework.
• National Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee ensures policy alignment and funding.
• Coordination with Food Corporation of India for grain supply.

State Level:

• State Education Departments manage implementation and fund allocation.
• State-level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committees monitor progress and quality.

District Level:

• District Collectors and Education Officers supervise meal delivery and infrastructure.
• District committees ensure compliance with nutritional and hygiene standards.

School Level:

• School Management Committees (SMCs) oversee daily operations and quality checks.
• Headmasters and teachers monitor meal distribution and attendance.

Community Level:

• SHGs and local women involved in cooking and serving meals.
• Parents and Gram Panchayats participate in monitoring and feedback.

Key Achievements of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Increased Enrollment and Attendance:

• School enrollment rose by 10-15% in rural areas post-MDMS launch (1995-2005).
• Attendance rates improved to over 85% in primary schools (UDISE data, 2023).

Reduced Malnutrition:

• Contributed to a decline in stunting from 48% (NFHS-3, 2005-06) to 35.5% (NFHS-5, 2019-21).
• Improved nutritional intake for over 11 crore children daily.

Lowered Dropout Rates:

• Reduced dropout rates in primary schools from 25.7% (2005) to 10.2% (2023).
• Significant impact on girls and marginalized communities.

Employment Generation:

• Employed over 25 lakh cooks-cum-helpers, mostly women, promoting economic empowerment.
• Supported local economies through procurement of food grains and vegetables.

Social Integration:

• Promoted social equity by serving meals to children from diverse backgrounds together.
• Reduced caste and gender-based discrimination in schools.

Health Improvements:

• Reduced anemia and micronutrient deficiencies through fortified meals.
• Improved child health outcomes via convergence with NHM and Poshan Abhiyaan.

Challenges of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Quality and Hygiene Issues:

• Incidents of food contamination or poor-quality meals in some regions.
• Inadequate kitchen infrastructure and storage facilities in rural schools.

Implementation Gaps:

• Irregular supply of food grains and funds in certain states.
• Delays in honorarium payments for cooks-cum-helpers.

Nutritional Gaps:

• Limited dietary diversity in some areas due to reliance on staple grains.
• Challenges in meeting protein and micronutrient requirements.

Monitoring Challenges:

• Inconsistent monitoring in remote areas due to lack of trained personnel.
• Data discrepancies in meal coverage and quality reporting.

Infrastructure Deficits:

• Many schools lack proper kitchens, dining areas, or clean water facilities.
• Shortage of trained cooks in some regions.

Regional Disparities:

• Uneven implementation in North-Eastern and tribal areas due to logistical constraints.
• Low awareness among parents about nutritional benefits.

Recent Developments and Initiatives

PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (2021):

• Upgraded MDMS with a focus on fortified foods, nutrition gardens, and digital monitoring.
• Extended to pre-primary children in schools with Anganwadi Centres.

Nutrition Gardens (Poshan Vatikas):

• Over 50,000 schools established nutrition gardens to grow vegetables and fruits.
• Promotes dietary diversity and community involvement.

Fortified Foods:

• Introduction of fortified rice (iron, vitamin B12, folic acid) in 15,000 schools.
• Collaboration with FCI and state agencies for fortified grain supply.

Digital Monitoring:

• PM Poshan Dashboard for real-time tracking of meal delivery and attendance.
• Mobile apps for SMCs to report quality and coverage issues.

Convergence with Other Schemes:

• Integration with Poshan Abhiyaan for nutrition monitoring and awareness.
• Collaboration with Jal Jeevan Mission for clean water in school kitchens.
• Linkages with Samagra Shiksha for school infrastructure upgrades.

Community Engagement:

• Tithi Bhojan initiative, where communities contribute meals on special occasions.
• Involvement of FPOs and SHGs for local sourcing of ingredients.

Impact of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Educational Impact:

• Increased enrollment and retention, particularly for girls and marginalized groups.
• Improved learning outcomes by addressing hunger-related concentration issues.

Health Impact:

• Reduced malnutrition and anemia among schoolchildren.
• Enhanced immunity through fortified meals and health check-ups.

Social Impact:

• Promoted social cohesion by fostering inclusive dining practices.
• Empowered women through employment as cooks and SHG involvement.

Economic Impact:

• Created jobs for over 25 lakh cooks and supported local agriculture.
• Reduced healthcare costs due to improved child nutrition.

Policy Impact:

• Strengthened India’s commitment to SDG 2, 3, and 4.
• Set a global benchmark for school feeding programs.

Monitoring and Evaluation

PM Poshan Dashboard:

• Tracks meal coverage, nutritional quality, and attendance in real-time.
• Monitors state and district-level progress.

Third-Party Audits:

• Independent evaluations by NITI Aayog, UNICEF, and other agencies.
• Food safety audits to ensure compliance with standards.

Community Monitoring:

• SMCs, parents, and Gram Panchayats conduct regular quality checks.
• Feedback through school inspections and surveys.

Grievance Redressal:

• Toll-free helplines and PM Poshan portal for complaints.
• District-level committees for quick resolution.

Conclusion

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has been a transformative initiative in addressing malnutrition, boosting school attendance, and promoting social equity in India. By serving over 11 crore children daily, MDMS has significantly improved nutritional and educational outcomes, particularly for marginalized communities. The upgrade to PM Poshan Shakti Nirman, with a focus on fortified foods, nutrition gardens, and digital monitoring, has enhanced its impact. Despite challenges like quality issues and infrastructure gaps, MDMS continues to drive India’s vision of a healthy, educated, and inclusive future, serving as a global model for school feeding programs.