Lok Sabha Question No. 868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Diet in Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: P. Velusamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-868

ANSWERED ON- 12.12.2022

## DIET IN MID DAY MEAL SCHEME

## 868.   SHRI VELUSAMY P.:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government for monitoring and successful implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 by providing minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein per school day for each child and at least for 200 days in Government aided primary schools;
- (b) the  number  of  schools  and  children  benefited  in  Tamil  Nadu  along  with  the  amount sanctioned for the current year;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  increase  the  cost  per  day  per  child  due  to prevailing inflation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  punitive  action  against  any  complaint  received from the students for not providing stipulated calories under the scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## 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  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.  The following nutritional content is prescribed in the Scheme:

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

In  order  to  improve  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  the  scheme  the  Government  has adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District levels  to ensure nutritious food is served to children under the Scheme.  A robust IT enabled MIS system using  latest  digital  technologies  has  been  developed  to  closely  monitor  the  programme. States/UTs  are  also  advised  to  conduct  social  audits  every  year  in  all  the  districts.  In addition,  Joint  Review  Missions  (JRMs)  consisting  of  educational  and  nutritional  experts review the scheme through field visits and assess the actual implementation of the Scheme at the ground level from time to time.

- (b):  45,64,151  number  of  children  are  enrolled  in  43,190  schools  in  Tamil  Nadu  under  the Scheme.  Project  Approval  Board  (PAB)  -  PM  POSHAN  has  approved  an  amount  of Rs.  44017.43 lakh as central assistance to State Government of Tamil Nadu during 2022-23 and  so far Rs. 25026.75 lakh has been released to State under the Scheme.
- (c):  The  Central  Government revised the material cost  (earlier known as  cooking 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 existing cost of Rs. 4.97 and Rs. 7.45 respectively w.e.f. 01.10.2022.
- (d):  There  are  no  specific  complaints  regarding  not  providing  stipulated  calories  to  students under PM POSHAN Scheme.  It is stated that the overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious Mid Day Meal to the eligible children lies with State Governments and UTs Administrations.  Accordingly,  complaints  of  different  categories,  whenever  received  are referred  to  the  concerned  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for  taking  necessary action.  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.

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