Lok Sabha Question No. 216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Nutritional Standards in Mid-Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 216 ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## Nutritional Standards in Mid-Day Meal Scheme

## 216  Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government ensures adherence to the nutritional standards specified in Schedule II of the National Food Security Act, 2013, for the Mid-day Meal Scheme, and if so, the measures taken by the Government to monitor compliance with these standards;
- (b) the details of the revised minimum budget allocated for Mid-Day Meal in primary and upper  primary  school  students,  including  the  date  of  revision  and  the  factors considered in determining the budget allocation;
- (c) whether the Government is undertaking periodic revisions and indexes for the MidDay  Meal  budget  allocation  to  account  average  food  inflation,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to index the budget for Mid-Day Meals to inflation in  order  to  ensure  consistent  nutritional  standards  and  if  so,  the  plans  of  the Government in this regard; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to  (e):  PM  POSHAN  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  implemented  in  partnership with  States/  UTs.  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 UT Administrations. Detailed guidelines have been issued regarding nutritional standards specified in Schedule II of the National Food Security Act, 2013 and States/ UTs have been advised to adhere to these Guidelines. In order to improve efficiency and effectiveness, the scheme inter-alia provides elaborate monitoring  mechanism  i.e.  Empowered  Committee  under  the  Chairpersonship  of Hon'ble  Union  Education  Minister,  Programme  Approval  Board  (PAB)  under  the Chairpersonship of Secretary  (DoSE&L),  State  Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee under  the  Chairpersonship  of  Chief  Secretary,  a  District  level  Committee  under  the

Chairpersonship  of  senior-most  MP  of  Lok  Sabha,  District  level  Steering-cumMonitoring  Committee  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  District  Collector.  In  addition States  and  UTs  are  advised  to  do  testing  of  meals  through  NABL  accredited laboratories  and  do  training  of  all  Cook-cum-Helpers  (CCHs).  The  States/UTs  are advised  to  conduct  social  audits  every  year  in  all  the  districts.  In  addition,  Joint Review Missions (JRMs) consisting of nutritional experts review the scheme through field  visits  and  assess  the  actual  implementation  of  the  Scheme  at  the  ground  level from  time  to  time.  The  Budget  Estimates  under  the  PM  POSHAN  Scheme  is  Rs. 12,467.39 crore during the 2024-25. Though PM POSHAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme,  the  Central  Government  provides  100%  assistance  for  cost  of  foodgrains including transportation  cost.  To  account  average  food  inflation,  the  material  cost  is revised  on  the  basis  of  Consumer  Price  Index-Rural  Labour  (CPI-RL)  under  the scheme.  The  material  cost  was  revised  on  01.10.2022.  The  National  Food  Security Act, 2013, Rules, Guidelines and Instructions issued under the PM POSHAN Scheme from time to time, provides that every child attending an eligible institution is to be covered under the Scheme and shall be served hot cooked nutritious meals or provided with  Food  Security  Allowance,  as  applicable,  on  all  school  days.  Accordingly,  the State Governments and UT Administrations prepare comprehensive Annual Work Plan and  Budget  (AWP&B),  inter-alia,  with  detailed  district-wise  vital  information  on coverage of children, working days and schools; enrolment  in schools; utilisation of foodgrains,  utilisation  of  cooking  cost,  transportation  cost,  Management,  Monitoring and Evaluation (MME), payment of honorarium to Cook-cum-Helper, construction of kitchen-cum-stores,  procurement  of  kitchen  devices  etc.  The  funds  are  released  as Central Assistance to cover children attending the school on all working days.

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