Lok Sabha Question No. 426 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: PM Poshan Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *426

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.03.2023

## 'PM POSHAN SCHEME'

- *426    SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the funding for PM Poshan Scheme has been cut down year-by-year since 2017 despite the Government according high priority to this scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the repercussions of reduction of the funds in terms of nutritional food to the children; and
- (d) if so, the stand of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
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STATEMENT  REFERRED TO REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (E)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *426 FOR ANSWER ON 31.03.2023 REGARDING PM POSHAN  SCHEME  ASKED  BY  SHRI  Y.  S.  AVINASH  REDDY,  HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (LS).

(a) to (d) The PM POSHAN (erstwhile Mid-day Meal) Scheme is under the Ministry of Education.  Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is one of the foremost rights based Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented in partnership with States and UTs. As per information given by Department of School Education and Literacy  (DoSEL),  Ministry  of  Education,,  this  Scheme  covers  about  12.21crore children  studying  in  10.84  lakh  Government  and  Government-Aided  Schools  in Classes I-VIII and Balvatika (just before class I). The objectives of the Scheme are to address two of the pressing problems for majority of children in India, viz. hunger and education by:

- i. Improving the nutritional status of eligible children in Government and Government aided schools.
- ii. Encouraging  poor  children,  belonging  to  disadvantaged  sections,  to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
- iii. Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought / disaster affected areas during summer vacation and disaster times.

Ministry of Education has informed that the Budget allocated under the Scheme for the year 2017-18 was 10000.00crore which increased in 2018-19 to Rs. 10500.00 crore and further increased to Rs. 11000.00crore in the year 2019-20.

The Budget was further increased to Rs. 12900.00 crore for the year 2020-21 as all the enrolled children were provided Food Security Allowance (FSA) due to COVID-19 pandemic during the year.

The BE in 2021-22 was lower due to the unforeseen outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, forcing  all  schools  to  close  resulting  in  activities  coming  to  a  standstill.  Thus,  the process of release of funds was curtailed and anticipated expenditure could not be incurred under the respective heads.

The BE for 2022-23 was Rs. 10,233.75 crore. However there is an increase in the enrolled number of children in Government and Government-Aided Schools. Besides, the material cost has also been enhanced. In view of the above, the RE 2022-23 has been increased to Rs.12,800.00 crore against the BE of Rs. 10233.75 crore.

DoSEL has informed that the RE of Rs.12800.00 crore is sufficient to implement the scheme with existing norms during 2022-23. The BE for the financial year 2023-24 is Rs. 11600.00 crore which is likely to be sufficient for implementation of the scheme with existing norms during 2023-24.

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