Lok Sabha Question No. 359 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 359 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme

## * 359.  SHRI SELVAM G.: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has been able to achieve the objectives for which Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme was launched, if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b)  the challenges faced by the Government while implementing the said scheme;
- (c)  whether this scheme has not been expanded to all primary classes or the students studying in Bal Vatikas, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (d) whether any step is being taken to make the country self-reliant through vocal for local under this scheme and if so, details thereof;
- (e)  the number of girl students particularly of SC/ST category benefitted out of this scheme  since its  inception  in  all  the  States  including  the  states  of  Tamil  Nadu  and  Maharashtra;  and
- (f)  the other steps taken by the Government to improve the nutrition standards of school children?

ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (f) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 359 for 28.03.2022  raised  by  Shri  Selvam  G.  and  Shri  Gajanan  Kirtikar,  Hon'ble  MPs  regarding PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme.

(a)&(b):  The  main  objectives  of  the  PM  POSHAN  Scheme  (earlier  known  as  Mid-Day  Meal Scheme) are to address two of the pressing problems for majority of children in India, viz. hunger and  education  by  improving  the  nutritional  status  of  eligible  children  in  Government  and Government  aided  schools  as  well  as  encouraging  poor  children,  belonging  to  disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.

NITI AAYOG has conducted an evaluation of the Scheme through independent third-party agency in 2019-20.   An evaluation under the leadership of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was also conducted in 2017-18.  The major findings of both the studies are as under:

-  Nutritional  level  among  students  availing  mid-day  meal  in  schools  is  reported  to  have improved as attributed by Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-2018).
-  92% of the students attending schools were availing mid-day meal.
-  More  than  80%    parents  stated  mid  day  meal  increased  the  enrolment  &  attendance, improved nutritional and health status of their children.
-  96% teachers mentioned that mid day meal improved the nutritional status of the school children.
-  92% teachers stated that mid day meal increased enrolment & improved attendance.

During the current pandemic Covid-19, since schools were closed, the main problem faced by the Government is to provide cooked meal to eligible children.  Therefore, all enrolled children are given Food Security Allowance(FSA) comprising of food grains and cooking cost under National Food Security Act, 2013 by States and UTs under the Scheme.

(c)&(d): The Government has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti  Nirman  (PM  POSHAN)'  for  providing  one  hot  cooked  meal  in  Government  and Government - aided Schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26.  The Government has approved provision of hot cooked meal to children of pre-schools or Balvatika (before class I) in primary schools also, in addition to the 11.80 crore children of classes I to VIII studying in 11.20 lakh schools.

In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme, Government approved several initiatives including 'Vocal for local' under which States and UTs are encouraged to decide menu suitable  to  the  local  conditions  within  the  prescribed  nutrition  and  food  norms  and  to  procure locally  grown  food  items  like  millets,  vegetables,  condiments  etc.  from  Farmers'  Producers Organizations, Federation of Women's Self-Help Groups etc. so as to promote local employment generation and economic development while simultaneously improving the nutrition standards.

(e): The Scheme is implemented across the country covering all the eligible children without any discrimination of gender and social class. 11.80 crore children (both boys and girls) are enrolled under the Scheme in all States including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra during the year 2021-22.

(f):  As  per  the  provisions  of  National  Food  Security  Act  (NFSA),  2013,  children  studying  in classes  I-VIII  or  within  the  age  group  of  6-14  years  are  entitled  to  one  mid  day  meal  free  of charge, every day except on school holidays, in all schools run by local bodies, Government and Government aided schools so as to meet nutritional standards specified in the Act. Accordingly, one  hot  cooked  meal  is  provided  to  eligible  children  on  all  working  school  days  under  PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme).  The following nutritional content is prescribed in the Scheme:

| Components   | Primary   | Upper Primary   |
|--------------|-----------|-----------------|
| Calories     | 450 Cal   | 700 Cal         |
| Protein      | 12 gms.   | 20 gms.         |

The following interventions are also being made to improve the nutrition standards of eligible children:

-  Tithi Bhojan: The concept of Tithi Bhojan is being encouraged extensively. Tithi Bhojan is  a  community  participation  programme  in  which  people  provide  special  food  to  children  on special occasions/festivals in addition to regular meals.
-  School  Nutrition  Gardens:  Efforts  are  being  made  to  promote  development  of  School Nutrition Gardens in schools to give children first hand experience with nature and gardening.
-  Supplementary Nutrition: Appropriate provision is being made under flexibility component for supplementary nutrition in districts with identified high cases of malnutrition etc.
-  Some States and UTs provide additional items such as milk, egg, fruits etc. to students from their own resources.

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