Lok Sabha Question No. 274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Overview of the Implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Jayadev Galla, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-274

ANSWERED ON- 05.02.2024

## Overview of the Implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme

## 274. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has carried out any audit to check the proper implementation of the Mid Day Meal Scheme in all States and Union Territories of the country recently;
- (b) if so, whether any irregularities were found after such audits carried out over the last three years in all the States of the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details of such irregularities;
- (c) whether the Government has considered to create a comprehensive committee to overview the performance, extent of implementation and audits of Mid-Day Meal Schemes of all States;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has forwarded any submissions/explanations regarding the irregularities in its Mid-Day Meal scheme;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Union Government has asked for the same from the State Government; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) to (d):   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. To check the proper implementation of the PM POSHAN Scheme, the Social Audit is mandatory in all Districts in at least 20 schools or 2% schools, whichever is higher. The states have been asked to conduct Social Audit as per approved norms of

the  scheme.  Social  Audit  is  collective  monitoring  of  the  Scheme  by  people's  active involvement covering issues of equity, equality, and expenditure management. Comprehensive and detailed Guidelines to conduct Social Audit under the scheme were issued in 2022-23 to all the States/UTs. The findings of the social audit are shared with the  States  functionaries  in  a  public  hearing  in  presence  of  all  the  stakeholders  and community members and corrective measures are taken. The Centre also constitutes Joint Review Missions (JRMs) to review the scheme through field visits from time to time.

The Government has adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District  levels  to  ensure  that  quality  food  is  served  to  children  under  the  Scheme.  At National level, an Empowered Committee, headed by Hon'ble Education Minister and also a National level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee  (NSMC)  as  well as Programme Approval Board (PAB) monitors the scheme and suggests measures for its smooth  and  effective  implementation.  At  the  State  level,  a  State  level  Steering-cumMonitoring Committee headed by the State Chief Secretary and, at the District Level, a District  Level  Committee  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  the  senior-most  Member  of Parliament of Lok Sabha from the district monitors the implementation of the scheme.

At local level Gram Panchayats/Gram Sabhas, members of Village Education Committees (VECs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the School Management Committees (SMCs)  monitor  the  regularity  and  wholesomeness  of  the  meal  served  to  children, cleanliness in cooking and serving of the meal, timeliness in procurement of good quality ingredients, fuel, etc., implementation of variety in menu so as to make it attractive to children and ensuring social and gender equity on daily basis. SMC member tastes the food on a rotation basis along with the teacher before it is distributed to the children.

(e) to (g): No irregularities are reported by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh under PM POSHAN Scheme.

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