Lok Sabha Question No. 1279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: Irregularities in Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab, Annpurna Devi, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, H. Vasanthakumar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1279 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2019

## Irregularities in Mid Day Meal Scheme

1279.   SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: SHRI VASANTHAKUMAR H.:

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

- (a) the guidelines issued by the Government with regard to Mid Day Meal Scheme ;
- (b)  the  number  of  children  died  /fallen  sick  after  eating  the  Mid  Day  Meal  in  the country  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year,  year-wise  and State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any enquiry in this regard and if so, the outcome of the enquiry;
- (d)    the  number  of  officials  who  were  involved  in  such  cases  and  the  action  taken against them;
- (e)    whether  the  Government  has  announced  any  compensation  to  the  parents  of children who were hospitalised and died after eating the mid day meal during the said period and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)   the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

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

- (a): The Government of India has issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school level kitchens 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.
- (b) to (e): A total number of 931 children were reported ill after eating the mid-day meal in the country during the last three  years and current year.  The State-wise and year-wise details are given at Annexure.

The overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious Mid Day Meal to the eligible children lies with State Governments and UTs Administrations. Respective State  Governments  and  UT  Administrations  were  requested  to  furnish  Action Taken Report (ATR) in the matter. As per Action Taken Reports (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/officials/organisations have been taken by the concerned State Governments and UT Administrations.

- (f):  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.    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.  In addition to directing States and UTs to carry out Social Audit, the Centre constitutes Joint Review Missions (JRMs) consisting of  educational  and  nutritional  experts,  which  review  the  scheme  through  field visits  from time to time.  The reports of JRMs are shared with concerned States and UTs for taking suitable action on the findings. The Government of India has also issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school level kitchens to all the States and UTs.

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1279 for 25.11.2019 raised by Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shrimati Annpurna Devi, Shri Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Shri Vasanthakumar H regarding Irregularities in Mid Day Meal Scheme.

Number of Children reported ill after consuming mid-day meal during the last three years and current year

|        |                | Children reported ill   | Children reported ill   | Children reported ill   | Children reported ill   | Children reported ill   |
|--------|----------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| S. No. | States and UTs | 2016                    | 2017                    | 2018                    | 2019 (As on 19.11.2019) | Total                   |
| 1.     | Andhra Pradesh | 44                      | -                       | -                       | -                       | 44                      |
| 2.     | Bihar          | 54                      | -                       | -                       | -                       | 54                      |
| 3.     | Chhattisgarh   | 60                      | -                       | -                       | -                       | 60                      |
| 4.     | Delhi          | -                       | 9                       | 29                      | -                       | 38                      |
| 5.     | Gujarat        | -                       | -                       | 9                       | -                       | 9                       |
| 6.     | J&K            | 25                      | -                       | -                       | -                       | 25                      |
| 7.     | Jharkhand      | 259                     | -                       | -                       | -                       | 259                     |
| 8.     | Maharashtra    | 201                     | -                       | -                       | -                       | 201                     |
| 9.     | Odisha         | 8                       | -                       | -                       | -                       | 8                       |
| 10.    | Rajasthan      | -                       | -                       | -                       | 1                       | 1                       |
| 11.    | Tamil Nadu     | -                       | 35                      | -                       | 43                      | 78                      |
| 12.    | Uttar Pradesh  | 153                     | 1                       | -                       | -                       | 154                     |
|        | Total          | 804                     | 45                      | 38                      | 44                      | 931                     |