Lok Sabha Question No. 22 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Audit of  Funds allocated to PM POSHAN
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Bhola Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No: 22 ANSWERED ON- 03/02/2025

## Audit of Funds Allocated to PM POSHAN

## 22. Dr. Bhola Singh:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION

be pleased to state:

- (a) the rationale behind increasing the material cost under the PM POSHAN scheme and its impact on quality of meal;
- (b) whether third-party audits are being conducted to ensure the proper utilization of funds allocated for improving the quality of meals;
- (c) the number of students benefitting from the scheme including data on increased nutritional intake; and
- (d) the key challenges faced/being faced in implementing the scheme across the country and the remedial measures taken by the Government?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) :  Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is implemented in partnership  with  States/  UTs  for  providing  one  hot  cooked  and  nutritious  meal  to children  studying  in  Balvatika  (just  before  class  I)  and  the  classes  I  to  VIII  of Government and Government-aided schools on all school working days. The rationale behind  increasing  the  material  cost  under  PM  POSHAN  Scheme  is  to  factor  in inflation in the cost of ingredients e.g. pulses, vegetables, cooking  oil, other condiments and fuel. The existing rates of material cost have been revised based on Consumer Price  Index-  Rural  Laborers  (CPI-RL)  index  by  13.70%  to  Rs.  6.19  per child per day for Bal Vatika & Primary Classes and  Rs. 9.29 per child per day for Upper Primary Classes w.e.f. 1 st December, 2024. It will help the schools to provide all the nutrients as prescribed to students and improve quality of food.

(b) : Section 28 of National Food Security Act, 2013 inter alia envisages that every local authority, or any other authority or body, as may be authorised by the State Government, shall conduct or cause to be conducted, periodic social audits on the functioning of the scheme and cause to publicise its findings and take necessary action, in such manner as may  be  prescribed  by  the  State  Government.  The  States/UTs  are  required  to  conduct Social  Audit  in  all  districts  in  at  least  20  schools  or  2%  of  the  schools,  whichever  is higher for each district. The responsibility for taking action and ensuring compliances on the  Social  Audit  findings  rests  with  the  State/UT  Nodal  Department  implementing  the PM POSHAN Scheme.

(c) : 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. For nutritional intake, the following nutrition and food norms under the scheme are as under:

| S. No.                              | Items                               | Primary& Balvatika                  | Upper Primary                       |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| A) Nutrition norm per child per day | A) Nutrition norm per child per day | A) Nutrition norm per child per day | A) Nutrition norm per child per day |
| 1.                                  | Calorie                             | 450                                 | 700                                 |
| 2.                                  | Protein                             | 12 gms                              | 20 gms                              |
| B) Food norms per child per day     | B) Food norms per child per day     | B) Food norms per child per day     | B) Food norms per child per day     |
| 1.                                  | Food grains                         | 100 gms                             | 150 gms                             |
| 2.                                  | Pulses                              | 20 gms                              | 30 gms                              |
| 3.                                  | Vegetables                          | 50 gms                              | 75 gms                              |
| 4.                                  | Oil &fat                            | 5 gms                               | 7.5 gms                             |
| 5.                                  | Salt &condiments                    | As per need                         | As per need                         |

To  ensure  nutritional  intake,  the  meal  is  prepared  of  fortified  rice  (Iron,  folic  acid  and Vitamin), double fortified salt (Iron & Iodine) and fortified oil (Vitamin A & D). Many States and UTs are also providing additional food items viz., eggs, fruits, milk, ragi malt and chikki etc. The States and UTs fix their menu as per their local needs, in order to meet the prescribed nutritional  content.  Shree  Anna  (Millets)  are  super  grains  are  a  great  source  of  several vitamins and minerals, including phosphorus, magnesium which enhances nutrient delivery. Advisories have been issued to States and UTs for inclusion of  Shree Anna at least once a week in the menu.

- (d): The key challenges noticed in implementation of the Scheme are as under:
- (i) Delay in release of funds to the implementing agencies by the States,
- (ii) Inadequate convergence with other Schemes,
- (iii) Maintaining the quality of meals every day.

The Government has taken the following initiatives to address the above problems.

Now, Public Financial  Management System (PFMS) system has been introduced by the Government  under  which  State  Government  needs  to  open  State  Nodal  Agency  (SNA) account.  The funds released by Central Government are transferred to SNA account which ensures comprehensive monitoring and efficient usage.

States have been repeatedly requested to strengthen convergence with Health Department with special emphasis for timely conduct of health checkups of students and distribution of Iron & Folic Acid (weekly) and De-worming tablets (Bi-annually).

States and UTs have been advised for mandatory tasting of meals by members of School Management Committee (SMC), teachers, parents etc., before serving the meals to students. Further, training of Cook-cum-Helpers through various Institutes viz., Hotel Management, FSSAI  and  UNICEF  are  being  carried  out  for  cooking  fresh  and  nutritious  meals  with minimal loss of vitamins. Organising of Cooking Competitions among Cook cum Helpers is also made, to encourage them to cook variety meal. Quality of meal is also checked/ verified through the visit of Social Audit teams.

States  have  been  also  advised  to  converge  with  the  other  Departments/Ministries  viz., Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfares,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra,  Ministry  of  Rural Development at the State Level for better coordination/implementation of the Scheme.

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