Lok Sabha Question No. 76 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-03
Subject: Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 76 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2020

## Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

## 76. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  reviewing  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  in  terms  of revision of various components of the Scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  a  Joint  Review  Mission  has  been  started  to  review  the  present  status  of implementation of the scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of children enrolled under MDMS database as on 31st December, 2019 along  with  the  number  out  of  these,  who  had  linked  their  Aadhaar  numbers  by October 31, 2019;
- (d) the number of duplicate names deleted after Aadhaar authentication, as reported by States as on 31.10.2019; and
- (e) whether the Government has adopted any elaborate monitoring mechanism to ensure quality food is served to children under the Scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): As per the extant policy, all Ministries / Departments have been asked to undertake an outcome review of their ongoing Schemes at the end of 12 th Five Year Plan for appraisal  and  further  continuation.    Accordingly,  the  Government  reviewed  the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) in 2018-19. The details of revisions/modifications in the scheme are given at Annexure-I.
- (b):  Joint  Review Missions (JRMs) under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme were started in 2009.   So far, 11 JRMs have been conducted and 12 th JRM is in process.  JRMs consisting of educational and nutritional experts, review the Scheme through field visits from time to time.

JRMs review various aspects of the implementation of the Scheme.  The reports of JRMs are shared with concerned States and UTs for taking suitable action on the findings and recommendations.

- (c) & (d):  As on 31st December, 2019 the number of children enrolled under MDMS database is 11,60,05,995.

As  per  information  reported  by  States  and  UTs  (except  J&K,  Ladakh,  Assam  & Meghalaya  which  are exempted),  out of 11,02,24,554 enrolled students in Elementary  Level  (Classes  I  -VIII)  9,67,52,617    (88%)  students  have  Aadhaar number  as  on  31.10.2019.  The  States  and  UTs  also  reported  that  6,40,435 proxy/duplicate names have been deleted after Aadhaar authentication.

- (e): The Government has adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District levels to ensure quality food is served to children under the Scheme. At national level, an Empowered Committee, headed by Minister of Human Resource Development  and  also  a  National  level  Steering-cum-Monitoring  Committee (NSMC) as well as Programme Approval Board (PAB) monitor the scheme and suggest measures for its smooth and effective implementation.

At the State level, a State level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee headed by the State Chief Secretary and, at the District Level, a District Level Committee under the Chairpersonship of the senior-most Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha from the district monitors the implementation of the scheme.

At  local  level  Gram  Panchayats/Gram  Sabhas,  members  of  Village  Education Committees (VECs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the School Management Committees (SMCs) monitor the regularity and wholesomeness of the mid-day meal served to children, cleanliness in cooking and serving of the meal, timeliness in procurement of good quality ingredients, fuel, etc., implementation of variety  in  menu  so  as  to  make  it  attractive  to  children  and  ensuring  social  and gender equity on daily basis. In addition to directing States and UTs to carry out Social Audit, the Centre constitutes Joint Review Missions (JRMs) to review the scheme through field visits from time to time.

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 76 for 03.02.2020 raised by Kumari Shobha Karandlaje regarding Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

## Details of  revision  /  modification  of  Centrally  Sponsored  National  Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools

The Central Government has approved the revisions/modifications of norms for the following components  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  National  Programme  for  Mid-Day  Meal  in Schools (NP-MDMS):

| a    | Continuation of existing components.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| i    | Cost of food grains @National Food Security Act (NFSA) rates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ii   | Honorarium to Cook-cum helpers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| iii  | Construction of kitchen-cum-stores                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| iv   | Provision of MDMduring summer vacations in drought affected areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| b    | Continuation and Revision of the norms of the following existing approved components                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| v    | Revision of cooking cost annually in April on the basis of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| vi   | Revision of the transportation rate for non-special category of States at par with respective PDS rate subject to maximum amount of Rs.150 per quintal.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| vii  | Revision of MMErate from 2% to 3% of the total admissible recurring Central Assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| viii | Procurement/replacement of kitchen devices @Rs.10000- Rs.25000 linked to enrolment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| c    | New Components                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| ix   | Assistance of Rs.10000/- for the Repair of kitchen-cum-stores constructed ten years ago on sharing basis between Center and States                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| x    | Fortification of food items in a systematic manner starting with rice. Kitchen Gardens in each school will also be encouraged.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| d    | Minor Modifications and Flexibility                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| xi   | Minor modifications in the scheme within the overall outlay of the scheme by District Level Committee chaired by the District Magistrate. The States and UTs may also be given flexibility to utilize with prior approval of MHRD, 5% of their Annual Work Plan & Budget for new interventions provided they are not included under any of the Central or State Schemes and there is no overlapping of activities. |
| e    | Use of pulses from buffer stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| xii  | Use of pulses from central buffer stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| f    | Innovations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| xiii | Monitoring of attendance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| xiv  | Develop indicative menus so that menu is different on different days.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| xv   | Involving community and agencies (i) Tithi Bhojan (ii) Usage of Jails, Temples Gurudwaras etc. inMDM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |