Lok Sabha Question No. 47 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Mid-Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-47

ANSWERED ON - 06/02/2023

## MID-DAY MEAL SCHEME

## *47.  ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the head teachers of the schools are facing hardship due to the non-revision of per student allocation for the implementation of Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme on the one hand and the soaring prices of LPG and essential commodities on the other hand, if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon;
- (b) whether the Government intends to increase the per student allocation for MDM scheme across the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  monthly  honorarium  for  cooks  under  MDM  scheme  has  not  been  revised since 2009;
- (d) if  so,  whether  the  Government  intends  to  increase  the  same  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  details  of  changes  made  in  the  allocation  per  student  for  MDM  in  primary  and secondary sections separately since 2014?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 47 for  06.02.2023  raised  by  Adv.  A.M.  Ariff,  Hon'ble  MP  regarding  Mid-Day  Meal Scheme.

- (a) & (b): Under the PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme),  the Central Government revised the material cost on the basis of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by increasing 9.6% over and above the existing material cost in 2022. The revised material  cost  per  day  per  child  for  Bal  Vatika  and  Primary  classes  as  well  as  Upper Primary classes are Rs. 5.45 and Rs. 8.17 as against the prior cost of Rs. 4.97 and Rs. 7.45 respectively w.e.f 01.10.2022.  The material cost, earlier known as cooking cost, includes the cost of vegetables, pulses, oil, condiments & fuel.

In  addition  to  above,  the  Central  Government  provides  100%  funding  for  foodgrains, transport assistance, and  Management/Monitoring  Expenses. Including the cost of foodgrains current cost per student for PM POSHAN Scheme is Rs. 11.38 and Rs. 16.25 respectively for  primary and upper primary level.

- (c)  &  (d):  Under  the  Scheme,  honorarium  is  provided  to  Cook-cum  Helpers  (CCHs)  for preparing and serving hot cooked meals at schools. These CCHs are honorary workers who have come forward for rendering social services. As per guidelines of the Scheme, uniform honorarium of Rs. 1000/- per month for 10 months in a year is prescribed for these CCHs in recognition of their services, and the same is being continued. The honorarium expenditure is shared  between  the  Central  Government  and  States  and  UTs  as  per  the  approved  sharing pattern.  Moreover,  the  State  Governments  and  UT  Administrations  also  supplement  the honorarium by providing additional funds from their own resources.
- (e):  The  details  of  changes  made  in  material  cost  (earlier  known  as  cooking  cost)  for Primary classes and Upper Primary classes since 2014 are given at Annexure.

.

*****

Statement referred to in reply to parts (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 47 for 06.02.2023 raised by Adv. A.M. Arif, Hon'ble MP regarding Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Details of changes made in material cost (earlier known as cooking cost) for Primary classes and Upper Primary classes since 2014-15

| Year                | Material Cost (earlier known as cooking cost   | Material Cost (earlier known as cooking cost   |
|---------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Year                | Primary                                        | Upper Primary                                  |
| 2014-15             | Rs.3.59                                        | Rs.5.38                                        |
| 2015-16             | Rs. 3.86                                       | Rs. 5.78                                       |
| 2016-17 and 2017-18 | Rs.4.13                                        | Rs.6.18                                        |
| 2018-19             | Rs. 4.35                                       | Rs. 6.51                                       |
| 2019-20             | Rs. 4.48                                       | Rs. 6.71                                       |
| 2020-21 and 2021-22 | Rs. 4.97                                       | Rs. 7.45                                       |
| 2022-23             | Rs 5.45                                        | Rs 8.17                                        |