Lok Sabha Question No. 1225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1225

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

## †1225.     SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) in the country recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the number of the schools and children in the country included in MDMS during the last three years, State-wise/UT-wise/district-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  used  under  MDMS  during  the  said  period State-wise/district-wise;
- (d) whether the enrollment rate in schools increased after the launching of the said scheme;
- (e) if  so,  the  details  of  the  increased  rate  registered  in  Uttar  Pradesh  during  said period, gender-wise;
- (f) whether any alleged irregularities including misuse of foodgrains, poor quality food served have been received;
- (g) if so, the  details  thereof  alongwith  the  action  taken  against  the  people responsible for the same; and
- (h) the other corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (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): The State and UT-wise details of children enrolled and number of institutions covered including Uttar Pradesh under the scheme during the last three years are given at Annexure-II.
- (c): The State and UT-wise details of funds allocated and utilized under the scheme during the last three years are given at Annexure-III.
- (d) & (e): The MDM Scheme was launched by the Government of India in 1995 and since then there has been a huge increase in the enrolment in schools which could be due to mid-day meal to some extent. There is a marginal decline in the enrolment in government schools over last 2-3 years. While no specific reason can be attributed for this, it may be presumed that the cleaning of data by States and UTs is largely responsible.
- (f) to (h):  A total number of 41 complaints on irregularities including misuse of foodgrains  and poor quality food served under the scheme were reported from various States and Union Territories during the last three years. Respective State Governments and UT Administrations were requested to furnish Action  Taken Report (ATR) in the matter. As per ATRs received from States and UTs, action such as issuing warning against the official responsible, terminating the contract of concerned NGOs/Organisations, initiating criminal proceedings and imposing penalties  against  the  defaulting  persons/organisations  have  been  taken  by  the concerned State Governments and UT Administrations.

The overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious Mid Day Meal to the  eligible  children  lies  with  State  Governments  and  UTs  Administrations. Further,  for  effective  implementation  of  the  Scheme,  the  Government  of  India has  also  issued  guidelines  on  quality,  safety  and  hygiene  to  all  the  States  and UTs. These guidelines, inter-alia, provide for instructions to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of mid day meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adult members of School Management Committee including at least one teacher before serving to children and to put in place a system of testing of food samples by accredited laboratories. Further, the MDM Rules, 2015 provide for mandatory testing of food samples by Government recognized laboratories to ensure that the meals meet nutritional standards and quality. The Government has also  adopted  an  elaborate  monitoring  mechanism  at  Central,  State  and  District levels to ensure quality food is served to children under the Scheme.

The  State  and  UT-wise  details  of  these  complaints  and  action  taken  thereon during each of the last three years are given at Annexure-IV.

*****

Annexure referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No. 1225  for  19.09.2020  raised  by  Shri  Sangam  Lal  Gupta  and  Shri  Rajeshbhai Chudasama, Hon'ble MPs 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. in MDM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

Annexure referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No. 1225  for  19.09.2020  raised  by  Shri  Sangam  Lal  Gupta  and  Shri  Rajeshbhai Chudasama, Hon'ble MPs regarding Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

State/UT-wise  details  of  Number  of  Children  enrolled  and  Institutions  covered under the Scheme during the last three years

| S. No.   | States/UTs        | 2017-18   | 2017-18      | 2018-19   | 2018-19      | 2019-20   | 2019-20      |
|----------|-------------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|
| S. No.   | States/UTs        | Enrolment | Institutions | Enrolment | Institutions | Enrolment | Institutions |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | 2962241   | 45505        | 3003654   | 45583        | 2961814   | 45484        |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh | 182567    | 2934         | 167565    | 2934         | 160977    | 2780         |
| 3        | Assam             | 4272276   | 57092        | 4263752   | 57103        | 4320767   | 53427        |
| 4        | Bihar             | 19503049  | 70295        | 18095158  | 69513        | 17239412  | 70180        |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh      | 3130280   | 44833        | 3041123   | 44838        | 3396887   | 44986        |
| 6        | Goa               | 161014    | 1479         | 161693    | 1473         | 181376    | 1468         |
| 7        | Gujarat           | 5761832   | 34307        | 5488319   | 34644        | 5172288   | 34788        |
| 8        | Haryana           | 1601082   | 14990        | 1491169   | 14391        | 1447990   | 14397        |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh  | 524705    | 15494        | 509804    | 15504        | 497774    | 15513        |
| 10       | Jammu & Kashmir   | 967462    | 23130        | 941554    | 23120        | 887033    | 22205        |
| 11       | Jharkhand         | 4673807   | 39722        | 4402797   | 39717        | 4180954   | 35773        |
| 12       | Karnataka         | 4710473   | 54837        | 4632909   | 54830        | 4511680   | 54359        |
| 13       | Kerala            | 2649196   | 12327        | 2728751   | 12341        | 2785523   | 12324        |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh    | 7332946   | 113621       | 6809497   | 113621       | 6664246   | 112908       |
| 15       | Maharashtra       | 11012148  | 86583        | 10788967  | 86744        | 10692617  | 86499        |
| 16       | Manipur           | 186504    | 3442         | 171169    | 3481         | 169803    | 3476         |
| 17       | Meghalaya         | 599355    | 11597        | 716078    | 11659        | 592325    | 11678        |
| 18       | Mizoram           | 200122    | 2532         | 136951    | 2525         | 131876    | 2511         |
| 19       | Nagaland          | 165702    | 2076         | 168338    | 2099         | 159710    | 2067         |
| 20       | Orissa            | 4841657   | 58784        | 4641593   | 57590        | 4513758   | 55525        |
| 21       | Punjab            | 1707881   | 20157        | 1574441   | 20157        | 1574443   | 19735        |
| 22       | Rajasthan         | 6222613   | 66506        | 6265346   | 66506        | 6267136   | 66341        |
| 23       | Sikkim            | 66657     | 868          | 60691     | 867          | 55905     | 868          |
| 24       | Tamilnadu         | 5224545   | 43205        | 5010783   | 43283        | 4900596   | 43246        |
| 25       | Telangana         | 1913868   | 27896        | 1913868   | 28586        | 1795956   | 27329        |
| 26       | Tripura           | 465525    | 6568         | 446226    | 6529         | 432279    | 6524         |

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| 27   | Uttarakhand   | 749596    | 17664   | 716910    | 17339   |    689306 |   17045 |
|------|---------------|-----------|---------|-----------|---------|-----------|---------|
| 28   | Uttar Pradesh | 17683288  | 167845  | 18019846  | 169232  |  18193664 |  167193 |
| 29   | West Bengal   | 11922163  | 83690   | 11579246  | 84171   |  11562465 |   83945 |
| 30   | A&N Islands   | 32337     | 332     | 32337     | 338     |     31115 |     332 |
| 31   | Chandigarh    | 98754     | 123     | 95334     | 123     |     93762 |     122 |
| 32   | D&N Haveli    | 42381     | 280     | 42867     | 280     |     74293 |     368 |
| 33   | Daman & Diu   | 18467     | 96      | 18827     | 92      |     74293 |     368 |
| 34   | Delhi         | 1612295   | 2973    | 1626379   | 2975    |   1604505 |    3046 |
| 35   | Lakshadweep   | 6957      | 39      | 7481      | 39      |      7290 |      39 |
| 36   | Ladakh        |           |         |           |         |     16577 |     817 |
| 37   | Puducherry    | 56899     | 431     | 56516     | 428     |     48427 |     426 |
|      | Total         | 123262644 | 1134253 | 119827939 | 1134655 | 118016529 | 1119724 |

Annexure referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (c)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No. 1225  for  19.09.2020  raised  by  Shri  Sangam  Lal  Gupta  and  Shri  Rajeshbhai Chudasama, Hon'ble MPs regarding Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

## The  State  and  UT-wise  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  under  the  scheme during the last three years

| S. No.   | States/UTs        | Central Assistance Released/ Allocated   | Expenditure / Utilized   | Central Assistance Released/ Allocated   | Expenditure / Utilized   | Central Assistance Released/ Allocated   | Expenditure / Utilized   |
|----------|-------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| S. No.   | States/UTs        | 2017-18                                  | 2017-18                  | 2018-19                                  | 2018-19                  | 2019-20                                  | 2019-20                  |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | 25713.85                                 | 25038.98                 | 25748.17                                 | 24891.49                 | 28563.77                                 | 26861.33                 |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh | 2551.75                                  | 2584.38                  | 2506.03                                  | 2585.01                  | 2367.90                                  | 2353.09                  |
| 3        | Assam             | 52903.47                                 | 52453.43                 | 51982.21                                 | 53532.38                 | 55325.82                                 | 56024.00                 |
| 4        | Bihar             | 97871.58                                 | 116749.66                | 112448.94                                | 110854.76                | 109313.34                                | 113259.90                |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh      | 27683.33                                 | 26410.68                 | 32085.98                                 | 28308.86                 | 25489.23                                 | 26886.06                 |
| 6        | Goa               | 1230.93                                  | 1241.95                  | 1309.07                                  | 1252.43                  | 1276.05                                  | 1161.03                  |
| 7        | Gujarat           | 40429.86                                 | 38955.79                 | 42351.63                                 | 35897.83                 | 39287.11                                 | 37962.06                 |
| 8        | Haryana           | 9953.83                                  | 12177.85                 | 13218.95                                 | 11221.87                 | 10889.91                                 | 13315.45                 |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh  | 8684.1                                   | 7965.82                  | 8021.30                                  | 8018.81                  | 7557.54                                  | 7789.72                  |
| 10       | Jammu &Kashmir    | 6328.69                                  | 8478.64                  | 10665.80                                 | 8598.72                  | 2666.45                                  | 7949.01                  |
| 11       | Jharkhand         | 30332.59                                 | 30288.74                 | 33242.99                                 | 29287.08                 | 32310.90                                 | 30621.39                 |
| 12       | Karnataka         | 44788.57                                 | 43548.88                 | 40707.67                                 | 43358.74                 | 52056.79                                 | 49733.80                 |
| 13       | Kerala            | 32978.36                                 | 18973.8                  | 19856.63                                 | 19477.55                 | 19962.41                                 | 20305.50                 |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh    | 58098.87                                 | 52691.33                 | 56191.95                                 | 56434.57                 | 50407.62                                 | 51791.74                 |
| 15       | Maharashtra       | 80310.7                                  | 81652.05                 | 98185.46                                 | 82533.91                 | 99468.82                                 | 84615.36                 |
| 16       | Manipur           | 2479.76                                  | 2200.51                  | 2050.81                                  | 2151.03                  | 2192.30                                  | 2262.23                  |
| 17       | Meghalaya         | 6486.73                                  | 6755.05                  | 7734.39                                  | 7119.85                  | 7835.83                                  | 7829.98                  |
| 18       | Mizoram           | 2018.32                                  | 1896.24                  | 1889.23                                  | 1862.79                  | 2047.93                                  | 1858.51                  |
| 19       | Nagaland          | 1776.42                                  | 2101.13                  | 2861.95                                  | 2208.58                  | 2279.38                                  | 51.48                    |
| 20       | Orissa            | 41927.41                                 | 39697.56                 | 39556.93                                 | 38228.53                 | 40358.68                                 | 39699.88                 |
| 21       | Punjab            | 14330.59                                 | 14301.69                 | 15249.99                                 | 14605.25                 | 13855.77                                 | 14797.65                 |
| 22       | Rajasthan         | 41107.05                                 | 41853.18                 | 42043.30                                 | 42136.34                 | 47252.76                                 | 44287.52                 |
| 23       | Sikkim            | 881.12                                   | 866.74                   | 881.15                                   | 865.16                   | 817.45                                   | 762.31                   |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu        | 42506.34                                 | 42238.42                 | 42054.58                                 | 41859.94                 | 43121.49                                 | 41150.06                 |
| 25       | Telangana         | 15494.76                                 | 15899.6                  | 15757.34                                 | 16833.58                 | 18821.14                                 | 16223.73                 |
| 26       | Tripura           | 5119.04                                  | 5164.16                  | 5339.03                                  | 4998.50                  | 5598.51                                  | 5820.96                  |

| 27               | Uttarakhand      | 9714.2    | 9652.28   | 9478.27   | 9290.60   |   10273.31 |   9760.07 |
|------------------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|-----------|
| 28               | Uttar Pradesh    | 100475.08 | 99654.16  | 112771.60 | 110736.90 |  118202    | 111493    |
| 29               | West Bengal      | 97146.3   | 97729.7   | 91710.01  | 101761.25 |  107103    | 112505    |
| 30               | A&N Islands      | 388.65    | 373.82    | 584.78    | 376.49    |     754.85 |    354    |
| 31               | Chandigarh       | 669.35    | 655.1     | 1062.83   | 652.73    |     884.26 |    722.45 |
| 32               | D&N Haveli       | 538.44    | 528.21    | 933.22    | 562.83    |     572.89 |    545.76 |
| 33               | Daman &Diu       | 332.16    | 262.55    | 304.07    | 284.31    |     258.31 |    230.2  |
| 34               | Delhi            | 5294.99   | 6059.56   | 9808.38   | 9470.37   |   10320    |   7022.89 |
| 35               | Lakshadweep      | 118.41    | 89.96     | 124.63    | 97.86     |      98.93 |     93.19 |
| 36               | Ladakh           |           |           |           |           |     122.35 |    253.33 |
| 37               | Puducherry       | 402.48    | 384.13    | 515.51    | 394.63    |     290.01 |    451.3  |
| TOTAL (In Lakhs) | TOTAL (In Lakhs) | 909068    | 907576    | 951235    | 922752    |  970004    | 948805    |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (f) to (h) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.  1225  for  19.09.2020  raised  by  Shri  Sangam  Lal  Gupta  and  Shri  Rajeshbhai Chudasama, Hon'ble MPs regarding Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

- (a) State  and  UT-wise  and  year-wise  details  of  complaints  on  irregularities including misuse of foodgrains and poor quality food served under MDMS during last 3 years

| Sl. No.   | State/UT         |   Poor quality |   Poor quality |   Poor quality |   Irregularities |   Irregularities |   Irregularities | Total   |
|-----------|------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|---------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UT         |           2018 |           2019 |           2020 |             2018 |             2019 |             2020 | Total   |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh   |              0 |              0 |              0 |                0 |                1 |                0 | 1       |
| 2         | Assam            |              0 |              0 |              0 |                0 |                1 |                0 | 1       |
| 3         | Bihar            |              0 |              0 |              0 |                1 |                1 |                2 | 4       |
| 4         | Delhi            |              2 |              0 |              0 |                0 |                1 |                0 | 3       |
| 5         | Gujarat          |              1 |              0 |              0 |                0 |                0 |                0 | 1       |
| 6         | Haryana          |              0 |              0 |              0 |                1 |                0 |                0 | 1       |
| 7         | Himachal Pradesh |              0 |              0 |              0 |                1 |                0 |                0 | 1       |
| 8         | J&K              |              0 |              0 |              0 |                0 |                1 |                0 | 1       |
| 9         | Jharkhand        |              0 |              0 |              0 |                1 |                0 |                0 | 1       |
| 10        | Kerala           |              0 |              0 |              0 |                2 |                0 |                0 | 2       |
| 11        | Maharashtra      |              0 |              1 |              0 |                0 |                0 |                0 | 1       |
| 12        | Punjab           |              0 |              0 |              1 |                0 |                1 |                0 | 2       |
| 13        | Rajasthan        |              0 |              1 |              0 |                1 |                2 |                1 | 5       |
| 14        | Tamil Nadu       |              0 |              1 |              0 |                1 |                0 |                0 | 2       |
| 15        | Uttar Pradesh    |              3 |              4 |              0 |                4 |                0 |                1 | 12      |
| 16        | West Bengal      |              0 |              0 |              0 |                2 |                0 |                1 | 3       |
|           | Total            |              6 |              7 |              1 |               14 |                8 |                5 | 41      |

## (b) Abstract of Action Taken on above complaints

| Sl. No.   | Type of Action                                                                                                                            | 2018         | 2018            | 2019         | 2019            | 2020         | 2020            | Total   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|---------|
|           |                                                                                                                                           | Poor Quality | Irregul arities | Poor Quality | Irregul arities | Poor Quality | Irregu larities |         |
| 1         | Departmental action (including warning, transfer, suspension) and action against service providers/complaint substantiated by State Govt. | 3            | 0               | 5            | 4               | 1            | 1               | 14      |
| 2         | General corrective action, including issue of instructions to the concerned, by State Govt./GOI.                                          | 0            | 3               | 1            | 1               | 0            | 0               | 5       |
| 3         | Baseless, not proved, not relatedtoMDM                                                                                                    | 3            | 11              | 1            | 3               | 0            | 0               | 18      |
| 4         | Under enquiry/ investigation at state level                                                                                               | 0            | 0               | 0            | 0               | 0            | 4               | 4       |
| 5         | Total                                                                                                                                     | 6            | 14              | 7            | 8               | 1            | 5               | 41      |
|           | Grand Total                                                                                                                               | 20           | 20              | 15           | 15              | 6            | 6               | 41      |