Lok Sabha Question No. 217 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Dhanush M Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-217

ANSWERED ON - 18/12/2023

## Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Tamil Nadu

## *217.  SHRI SELVAM G.: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  funds  utilized  by  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  allocated  by  the  Central Government for Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDMS) during the last three years, year-wise including the current year;
- (b) whether quality food has been served under MDMS;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to improve and maintain the quality of food served under MDMS in the State?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 217 for 18.12.2023 raised by Shri Selvam G. and Shri Dhanush M. Kumar, Hon'ble MPs regarding Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Tamil Nadu

- (a): The details of funds allocated/ released by Central Government and utilised by the State Government of Tamil Nadu under PM POSHAN Scheme during the last three years including current year is as follows:-

(Rs. in lakh)

|   S.No. | Financial Year             |   Central share released/made available to State Government |   Amount utilized by State Government |
|---------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|       1 | 2021-22                    |                                                     41012.5 |                              42238.7  |
|       2 | 2022-23                    |                                                     48158.6 |                              40284.4  |
|       3 | 2023-24 (up to 13-12-2023) |                                                     14712.2 |                               8380.08 |

- (b)  to  (d):    PM  POSHAN  Scheme  is  a  centrally  sponsored  scheme  implemented  in partnership with the States and UTs. The overall responsibilities for providing hot cooked and  nutritious  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.  The following nutritional content is prescribed under the scheme Guidelines:-

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

The following food items are prescribed for the children of primary and upper primary classes to meet nutritional norms under the scheme:

| S. No.   | Items                      | Primary             | Upper Primary       |
|----------|----------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| S. No.   | Items                      | 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         |

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.

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