Lok Sabha Question No. 1079 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: PM POSHAN Scheme
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1079

ANSWERED ON - 29/07/2024

## PM POSHAN Scheme

## 1079 Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  Prime  Minister's  Overarching  Scheme  for Holistic Nourishment (PM-POSHAN) Scheme in schools;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with salient features and objectives;
- (c) the details of funds released to State Government of Tamil Nadu under this scheme during the last three years, district-wise;
- (d) whether the State Government also contributes in the Scheme;
- (e) if so, the contribution provided by it during the last three years and current year;
- (f) whether the Government provides breakfast and lunch in the schools under the Scheme;
- (g) whether there is any menu fixed for food prepared under the Scheme and  if so, the details thereof;  and
- (h) the per student amount provided by the Government under the scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b):  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 providing one hot cooked and nutritious meal to the eligible children. This Scheme is implemented across  the  country  covers  all  children  of  Bal  Vatika  (just  before  class  I)  and  Classes  I-VIII studying  in  Government  and  Government-Aided  Schools.  The  objectives  of  PM  POSHAN Scheme are to address two of the pressing problems for majority of children in India, viz. hunger and education. The Salient features of the Scheme are as under:

- (i) Inclusion of Bal Vatika: The provision of hot cooked meal to children of pre-schools or  Bal  Vatika  (before  class  I)  in  primary  schools  also,  in  addition  to  children  of classes I to VIII studying in Government and Government-aided schools.
- (ii) Tithi Bhojan: Tithi Bhojan is a community participation programme in which people provide special food to children on special occasions/festivals in addition to regular meal.
- (iii) School  Nutrition  Gardens:  Under  the  Scheme,  development  of  School  Nutrition Gardens  in  schools  is  being  promoted,  to  give  children  first  hand  experience  with nature and gardening.
- (iv) Social  Audit:  Social  Audit  in  all  districts  is  made  mandatory  under  the  Scheme. Social  Audit  is  collective  monitoring  of  a  scheme  by  people's  active  involvement covering issues of equity, equality and expenditure management.
- (v) Vocal for local: Under 'Vocal for local' States and Union Territory Administrations 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.
- (vi) Special  Focus:  Adequate  provision  for  supplementary  nutrition  in  aspirational districts / tribal districts / districts with identified high cases of malnutrition etc.
- (vii) Disaster Management: Provision of hot cooked meal or Food Security Allowance to  children  when  schools  are  closed  due  to  a  disaster  impacting  the  State/Union Territory, part of State/Union Territory, some States/Union Territory or whole country as  maybe  declared  by  the  State/Central  Government  under  its  powers  as  Disaster Management Authority.

(c) to (e): PM POSHAN Scheme is implemented in partnership with the States and Union Territory Administrations. The existing cost sharing ratio between the Centre and States & UTs  with Legislature is 60:40, for North-Eastern  Regions  (NER)/Himalayan  States including J&K is 90:10 and in Union Territories without legislature is 100%. The Central Government  releases  Central  Assistance  to  the  State  Government  and  State  Government releases matching State share. During the years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, an amount of  Rs.  23264.94  lakh,  Rs.  47700.10  lakh  and  Rs.  39852.49  lakh  respectively,  as  Central Assistance  was  released  to  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  under  the  Scheme.  The  district-wise details of funds released by the State (Central Share and State Share) during the last three years is given at Annexure.

(f) and (g): One hot cooked meal is provided under the PM POSHAN Scheme to all eligible children on all school working days. The overall responsibilities for providing cooked and nutritious mid-day meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments and Union Territory  Administrations  in  accordance  with  the  Guidelines  laid  down  by  the  Central Government.  The States and UTs fix their menu according to their local needs, in order to meet the following nutritional content as prescribed in the scheme guidelines.

| Components   | Primary   | Upper Primary   |
|--------------|-----------|-----------------|
| Calories     | 450       | 700             |
| Proteins     | 12 gms    | 20 gms          |

(h):   Under the Scheme, the material cost per day per child for Bal Vatika & Primary classes and  Upper  Primary  classes  is  Rs.  5.45  and  Rs.  8.17  respectively.  In  addition  to  above,  the Central  Government  provides  100%  funding for foodgrains, transport assistance, and Management/Monitoring Expenses. The current costs per student per meal including the cost of food grains, under PM POSHAN Scheme are Rs. 11.38 for Primary & Bal Vatika and Rs. 16.25 for Upper Primary level respectively.

*****

Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) to (e) of Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 1079 for 29.07.2024 asked by Hon'ble MP Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan on PM POSHAN Scheme.

## Details of funds released by State Government of Tamil Nadu at District Level under PM POSHAN Scheme

(Rs. in crore )

| Sl. No   | Name of the District   | 2021-22   | 2022-23   |   2023-24 |
|----------|------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1        | Ariyalur               | 9.84      | 10.1      |     11.39 |
| 2        | Chennai                | 14.07     | 15.49     |     17.08 |
| 3        | Coimbatore             | 19.89     | 20.7      |     23.88 |
| 4        | Cuddalore              | 24.69     | 26.24     |     28.33 |
| 5        | Dharmapuri             | 17.87     | 19.09     |     19.55 |
| 6        | Dindigul               | 22.96     | 22.77     |     24.18 |
| 7        | Erode                  | 17.68     | 17.92     |     21.15 |
| 8        | Kancheepuram           | 27.44     | 29.28     |     11.77 |
| 9        | Chengalpattu           |           |           |     20.14 |
| 10       | Kannyakumari           | 9.83      | 12.63     |     12.52 |
| 11       | Karur                  | 10.28     | 10.46     |     11.63 |
| 12       | Krishnagiri            | 25.54     | 27.18     |     28.12 |
| 13       | Madurai                | 24.39     | 24.87     |     27.14 |
| 14       | Nagapattinam           |           |           |      9.04 |
| 15       | Mayiladuthurai         | 17.36     | 17.08     |     10.02 |
| 16       | Namakkal               | 14.23     | 14.99     |     15.98 |
| 17       | The Nilgiris           | 4.87      | 4.9       |      5.31 |
| 18       | Perambalur             | 6.5       | 7.05      |      7.38 |
| 19       | Pudukkottai            | 23.49     | 23.56     |     25.57 |
| 20       | Ramnad                 | 14.69     | 13.73     |     14.79 |
| 21       | Salem                  | 33.42     | 34.64     |     38.5  |
| 22       | Sivagangai             | 14.39     | 14.98     |     16.51 |
| 23       | Thanjavur              | 22.55     | 22.91     |     27.31 |
| 24       | Theni                  | 12.3      | 12.1      |     12.97 |
| 25       | Thiruchirapalli        | 25.07     | 25.46     |     28.18 |
| 26       | Thiruvallur            | 23.99     | 25.79     |     27.69 |
| 27       | Thiruvarur             | 13.86     | 13.99     |     15.16 |
| 28       | Thirunelveli           |           |           |     15.1  |
| 29       | Tenkasi                | 29.85     | 30.28     |     16.32 |
| 30       | Tirupur                | 18        | 18.87     |     22.89 |
| 31       | Thiruvannamalai        | 31.65     | 32.33     |     34.89 |
| 32       | Tuticorin              | 16.54     | 16.64     |     19.28 |
| 33       | Vellore                |           |           |     15    |
| 34       | Ranipet                | 39.68     | 41.92     |     13.45 |
| 35       | Thirupathur            |           |           |     15.52 |
| 36       | Villupuram             | 42.57     | 44.12     |     25.95 |
| 37       | Kallakurichi           |           |           |     21.12 |
|          | Total                  | 649.06    | 671.19    |    731.69 |