Lok Sabha Question No. 1248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Assessment Over Free Meal Scheme for Children
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1248

ANSWERED ON- 11.12.2023

## Assessment Over Free Meal Scheme for Children

## 1248. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  about  the  free  meal  scheme  for  school children to modify it and to add some items such as milk, fruits etc.;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the fact that various reports claim that the quality of meal provided in schools and Aganwadi etc., is very poor due to corruption;
- (c) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this connection; and
- (d) if not, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) One hot cooked meal is provided to eligible children on all working school days under PM POSHAN Scheme.  PM POSHAN Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented in partnership  with  the  States  and  UTs.  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          |

The nutritional norms are met by providing the following food items are prescribed to the children of primary and upper primary classes under the scheme all over the country:

| S.   | Items                      | Primary Stage       | Upper Primary Stage   |
|------|----------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
| No.  |                            | Food norms (in gms) | Food norms (in gms)   |
| 1.   | Foodgrains (Rice / Wheat)  | 100                 | 150                   |
| 2.   | Pulses                     | 20                  | 30                    |
| 3.   | Vegetables (Leafy& Others) | 50                  | 75                    |
| 4.   | Oil &Fat                   | 5                   | 7.5                   |
| 5.   | Salt& Condiments           | As per need         | As per need           |

However, some States and UTs also provide additional items such as milk, egg, fruits etc. to students from their own resources.

- (b) to (d): The overall responsibility for providing nutritious hot cooked meal to the eligible children under PM  POSHAN  Scheme  lies  with  State Governments and UTs  Administrations. Accordingly, the respective State Governments and UT Administrations have been requested to take necessary action in a timely manner and to furnish Action Taken Report regarding quality of food.

The Government of India issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school level kitchens to  all  the  States  and  UTs  to  address  the  quality  issue.  These  guidelines  inter-alia  provide  for instructions to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of hot cooked meal, tasting of meals by 2-3 adult members of School Management Committee including at least one teacher before serving to children and to put in place a system of testing of food samples by accredited laboratories. The Government has also adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District levels to ensure quality food is served to children.

The  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development  approves  proposals  from  the  States/UTs  for allocation of food grains under the Anganwadi   services in coordination with the D/o Food & Public  Distribution  through  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI).   This  Ministry  has  issued Streamlining  Guidelines  on  Quality  Assurance,  Roles  and  Responsibilities  of  Duty  Holders, procedure for procurement, integrating AYUSH concepts and Data Management and monitoring through  'Poshan  Tracker'  for  transparency, efficiency and  accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition.  As per the above guidelines, States/UTs need to ensure the quality of supplementary Nutrition being provided with reference to the norms of food safety as well as nutrient composition.

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