Lok Sabha Question No. 696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: PM-POSHAN
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Shivmangal Singh Tomar, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi, Shri Alok Sharma, Dr. Rajesh Mishra, Shri Vijay Baghel, Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Yogender Chandolia, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 696

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## PM-POSHAN

696.     SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI:

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

DR. RAJESH MISHRA:

SHRI SHIVMANGAL SINGH TOMAR:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken by the Ministry to encourage Farmers Producer Organisations  (FPOs)  and  Women  Self-Help  Groups  (SHGs)  to  participate  in various schemes under PM POSHAN particularly in Jalgaon in Maharashtra and Durg  and  Bemetara  in  Chhattisgarh;  (b)  whether  the  Ministry  has  any  plan  to expand  the  provision  of  meals  to  other  early  childhood  education  centers  in addition to Balvatikas;
- (c) if so, the details thereof alongwith their expected impact, State-wise and districtwise including the said areas;
- (d) the details of the measures being implemented to ensure the effective involvement of local stakeholders including FPOs and SHGs in delivering schemes benefits in rural areas of various States including the said areas;
- (e) whether the SHGs or other organisation have been invited/asked to participate under the said schemes, if so, the details of participating organization, State-wise including Sidhi parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh and if not, whether the Government proposes to include these organisations in future; and
- (f) the details of budgetary provision under the said scheme alongwith allotment and utilisation  of  funds  during  the  last  three  financial  years  including  the  current financial year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a): Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is one of the foremost rights  based  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  implemented  by  Department  of  School Education  and  Literacy in partnership  with  States  and  UTs.  Farmers  Producer Organisations (FPOs) are not included in the PM POSHAN scheme, however, various women's self-help groups are working to cook food at the school level as well as under the  PM POSHAN Scheme including Jalgaon in Maharastra and Dung & Bemetara in Chhatisgarh.

(b) & (c) : The Government has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri  Poshan  Shakti  Nirman  (PM  POSHAN)'  for  providing  one  hot  cooked  meal  in Government  and  Government  -  aided  Schools  from  2021-22  to  2025-26.  The Government has approved provision of hot cooked meal to children of pre-schools or Balvatika (before class I) in primary schools also, in addition to the children of classes I to VIII across the country. About 11.20 crore children studying in Balvatika (just before class I) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government-aided schools are benefitting under the Scheme during current financial year 2024-25.

(d)  to  (f)  :  The  overall  responsibility  for  smooth  functioning  of  the  scheme  including providing  hot  cooked  and  nutritious  meal  to  the  eligible  children  lies  with  the  State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Government of India has issued detailed guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene to ensure serving of good quality meal and participation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Scheme to all the States/UTs including  Sidhi  parliament  Constituency  in  Madhya  Pradesh.  These  guidelines  are available on official website https://pmposhan.education.gov.in.  The budgetary  provision under PM POSHAN Scheme for the last three years including current financial Year is as under:-

(Rs. in crore )

| Year    |   Budget Allocation |   Released |   Utilisation |
|---------|---------------------|------------|---------------|
| 2020-21 |             11000   |   12874    |       12767.1 |
| 2021-22 |             11500   |   10226.8  |       12609.4 |
| 2022-23 |             10233.8 |   12675    |       12162.9 |
| 2023-24 |             11600   |    8451.22 |        9380.2 |

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