Lok Sabha Question No. 3415 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-15
Subject: Akshaya Patra Foundation
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3415 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.07.2019

## Akshaya Patra Foundation

## 3415. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  controversy  concerning  the  vegetarian  meals being served to school children in about 15,000 schools by the Akshaya Patra Foundation across the country;
- (b)  if so, whether the Government has investigated the matter;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the reports in media that the children in Karnataka State were not liking the food as it was served without onion and garlic;
- (e)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  is  constituting  a  committee  to  inquire  the  matter  and  examine whether the present mid-day meal scheme is aligning with the dietary requirements of the children?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (c): The Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) is implemented in partnership with States and  Union  Territories  Administrations  (UTs).  The  overall  responsibility  for  providing cooked and nutritious mid-day meal to the eligible children lies with the States and UTs in accordance with the Guidelines laid down by the Central Government. The States and UTs fix their menu as per their local needs, in order to meet the prescribed nutritional content.

An  incident  has  come  to  the  notice  of  Government  wherein  Food  Commission  of Karnataka has made the objection on 04-08-2018, that vegetables like onion and garlic are  not  being  used  by  Akshaya  Patra  Foundation  while  preparing  and  supplying  meal under  MDMS  in  Bellary  district  of  Karnataka.    Government  of  Karnataka  has  got  the report and opinion from Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore and National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad in the matter.

The opinion reports from both the organizations have been reviewed and accepted by the Government  of  Karnataka  and  issued  instruction  that  there  is  no  need  to  make  any changes in food preparing system being done by Akshaya Patra Foundation.

- (d)  to  (f):  As  per  information  received  from  State  Government  of  Karnataka,  a  report  was telecasted in media pertaining to Government Higher Primary School (GHPS), Yelahanka,  Bengaluru  north  district  that  children  not  liking  the  food  as  it  was  served without onion and garlic. State Government has  sent an officer to visit the school and verify the facts and it is found that no such complaints have been received from children, parents and schools and all the children are receiving mid-day meal regularly prepared and supplied by Akshaya Patra Foundation.  Government is not constituting a Committee in the matter.    However,  the  Mid-Day  Meal  Guidelines  prescribe  the following nutritional and  food norms under the Scheme to meet nutritional standards specified in the National Food Security Act, 2013:

| Items                                        | For children of Primary classes              | For children of Upper Primary classes        |
|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| A) Nutritional Norms (Per child per day)     | A) Nutritional Norms (Per child per day)     | A) Nutritional Norms (Per child per day)     |
| Calorie                                      | 450                                          | 700                                          |
| Protein                                      | 12 gms                                       | 20 gms                                       |
| B) Quantum of Food Norms (Per child per day) | B) Quantum of Food Norms (Per child per day) | B) Quantum of Food Norms (Per child per day) |
| Food-grains                                  | 100 gms                                      | 150 gms                                      |
| Pulses                                       | 20 gms                                       | 30 gms                                       |
| Vegetables                                   | 50 gms                                       | 75 gms                                       |
| Oil& fat                                     | 5 gms                                        | 7.5 gms                                      |
| Salt & condiments                            | As per need                                  | As per need                                  |

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