Lok Sabha Question No. 1986 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Breakfast in Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Dushyant Singh, Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1986 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## Breakfast in Mid Day Meal Scheme

## 1986. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH: SHRI VIVEK NARAYAN SHEJWALKAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to offer breakfast in the schools under PM POSHAN scheme and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  any  revision of hiking cooking charges paid to cooking staff at the school under PM POSHAN scheme;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether the Government proposes to supply multigrain buiscuits, breads, soyamilk and  other   nutritious   food  items  in school in  place  of  preparing  food  under Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)    whether the Government has conducted any assessment of impact of MDMS now PM   POSHAN   on   overcoming  the  malnutrition  among  the  school  children who  are beneficiaries  of  this  from  the  inception  of  this  scheme  to  till  2021;  and
- (f) if so the details thereof, and if not, is there any proposal to conduct it in future?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) :  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 National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools).  The following  nutritional content is prescribed in the Scheme:

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

There is no provision of breakfast in the Scheme. However, some States and UTs provide  additional  items  such  as  milk,  egg,  fruits  etc.  to  students  from  their  own resources.

- (b) & (c):  Under the PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier known as Mid Day Meal Scheme), Cook-Cum-Helpers (CCHs) are engaged for preparing and serving hot cooked meals at schools. They are honorary workers who have come forward for rendering social services. In recognition of their services, the CCHs are paid Rs.1000 per month as honorarium for 10 months in a year and this is being continued. Honorarium is also provided to CCHs for preparing and serving hot cooked meals in elementary schools during  summer  vacation  in  drought  affected  areas  notified  by  the  concerned  State Governments. The honorarium expenditure is shared between the Central Government  and  States  and  UTs  as  per  the  approved  sharing  pattern.  The  State Governments and UT Administrations also supplement the honorarium by providing additional funds from their own resources.
- (d):  The  National  Food  Security  Act  (NFSA),  2013  provides  for  hot  cooked  meal  for eligible children under the scheme. There is no provision in the scheme to replace the existing  hot  cooked  meal  with  ready  to  eat  food.  However,  some  States/UTs  are providing  additional  food  items  like  milk/egg/fruits/  sweets  to  children  from  their own resources.
- (e)  &  (f):  One  of  the  objectives  of  the  Scheme  is  to  improve  the  nutritional  status  of eligible children in Government and Government aided schools.  NITI AAYOG has conducted an  evaluation  of  the  Scheme  through  independent  third-party  agency  in 2019-20 and one of its findings is that nutritional level among students availing midday  meal in schools  is  reported  to  have  improved  as  attributed  by  Comprehensive National  Nutrition  Survey  (2016-2018).  An  evaluation  under  the  leadership  of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was also conducted in 2017-18 and according to their  report,  96%  teachers  mentioned  that  mid  day  meal  improved  the  nutritional status of the school children.

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