Lok Sabha Question No. 227 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 227 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## Mid Day Meal Scheme

## * 227.  SHRIMATI P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER: SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any financial assistance is provided for the construction of kitchencum-store for cooking and safe storage of foodgrains in the schools under the Mid Day Meal Scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of students benefited, people employed and details of budget allocated by the Government to the States under the Mid Day Meal along with the cooking cost per day per children reimbursed/incurred during the last three years, State and year-wise;
- (c) the number of complaints of irregularities/corruption, reported in the Mid Day Meal Scheme during the last three years along with the action taken thereon in the States, State/UT-wise and year-wise etc.;
- (d) whether the Government has set up any monitoring mechanism to ensure that quality food is served to students and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to revise the guidelines related to Mid Day Meal Scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

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

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for  14.03.2016  raised  by  SHRIMATI  P.K.SREEMATHI  TEACHER  AND  SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

- (a): Financial  assistance  is  provided  for  construction  of  kitchen-cum-stores  as  per  the prescribed  funding  pattern,  which  has  been  revised  w.e.f.  1.4.2015  and  is  90:10 between  Centre  and  States  for  North  Eastern  and  3  Himalayan  States,  100%  for Union  Territories  and  60:40  for  all  other  States.  The  Central  Government  has released Rs. 8028.48 crore for construction of 10.06 lakh kitchen-cum-store till 29 th February 2016. The State-wise details of sanction and construction of kitchen-cumstores are given at Annexure-I.
- (b): The number of children covered under the scheme, the number of cook-cum-helpers engaged and details of funds released by the Central Government to the States in the last three years are given at Annexure-II, Annexure-III and Annexure-IV respectively. The Cooking Cost per day per child for Mid Day Meal Scheme during the last three year is as under:

(in Rs. )

| Year    |   Primary |   Upper Primary |
|---------|-----------|-----------------|
| 2013-14 |      3.34 |            5    |
| 2014-15 |      3.59 |            5.38 |
| 2015-16 |      3.86 |            5.78 |

- (c): 139 complaints of irregularities/corruption have been reported in the Mid Day Meal Scheme  during  the  last  three  years.  The  State-wise  and  year-wise  status  of  these complaints and action taken thereon during the last three years are given at AnnexureV.
- (d): In order to ensure effective implementation of the MDMS, an elaborate monitoring mechanism  exists  at  both  State  and  the  Central  levels.  At  the  national  level,  an Empowered  Committee,  headed  by  Minister  of  Human  Resource  Development (HRD), a National level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (NSMC) and Programme Approval Board (PAB) monitor the Scheme and suggest policy measures for effective implementation of the Scheme. At the State level, there is a State level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee headed by Chief Secretary and at the District Level, there is a District Level Committee under the Chairpersonship of senior most Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha to monitor the scheme. Joint Review Missions (JRM) consisting of experts also review the scheme through field visits. The Central Government  have  issued  updated  guidelines  on  Food,  Safety  and  Hygiene  on February,  2015  covering  aspects  related  to  procurements,  storage,  cooking,  serving and waste disposal of food so as to ensure quality of meals being served in schools. Further  the  Government  have  also  notified  Mid  Day  Meal  Rules  2015  under  the National Food Security Act. The rules inter alia provide for testing of meals through Government recognized laboratories.
- (e): The Guidelines are revised from time to time as per suggestion/inputs from various stakeholders. There is no immediate proposal to revise the guideline of Mid Day Meal Scheme.

*************

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for 14.03.2016 raised by SHRIMATI P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER AND SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

## State wise status of sanctioned and constructed kitchen-cum-stores and funds released by Central Government under MDMS

| S. No   | State / UT        |   No. of Kitchen- cum-stores sanctioned |   No. of kitchen- cum-stores constructed upto 30.9.2015 |   Funds released by Central Govt. upto 29th February 2016 (Rs. in lakh) |
|---------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh*   |                                   75283 |                                                   23408 |                                                                58165.9  |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh |                                    4131 |                                                    4085 |                                                                 2494.87 |
| 3       | Assam             |                                   56795 |                                                   39450 |                                                                46885.3  |
| 4       | Bihar             |                                   66550 |                                                   50724 |                                                                45193.1  |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh      |                                   47266 |                                                   39430 |                                                                30002.2  |
| 6       | Goa               |                                       0 |                                                       0 |                                                                    0    |
| 7       | Gujarat           |                                   25077 |                                                   20454 |                                                                23203.2  |
| 8       | Haryana           |                                   11483 |                                                    8825 |                                                                11710.5  |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh  |                                   14959 |                                                   14104 |                                                                 9029.7  |
| 10      | Jammu &Kashmir    |                                   11815 |                                                    7118 |                                                                 8393.63 |
| 11      | Jharkhand         |                                   39001 |                                                   33231 |                                                                40845.5  |
| 12      | Karnataka         |                                   40477 |                                                   35298 |                                                                53929.4  |
| 13      | Kerala            |                                    2450 |                                                    2408 |                                                                 2544.55 |
| 14      | Madhya Pradesh    |                                  100751 |                                                   89666 |                                                                62477.3  |
| 15      | Maharashtra       |                                   71783 |                                                   54268 |                                                                51448    |
| 16      | Manipur           |                                    3053 |                                                    1739 |                                                                 4283.42 |
| 17      | Meghalaya         |                                    9491 |                                                    8839 |                                                                14677.1  |
| 18      | Mizoram           |                                    2396 |                                                    2396 |                                                                 2623.75 |
| 19      | Nagaland          |                                    2223 |                                                    2223 |                                                                 2518.96 |
| 20      | Orissa            |                                   69152 |                                                   37022 |                                                                40579.8  |
| 21      | Punjab            |                                   18969 |                                                   18969 |                                                                11659    |
| 22      | Rajasthan         |                                   77298 |                                                   50731 |                                                                47135.8  |
| 23      | Sikkim            |                                     936 |                                                     800 |                                                                  684.34 |
| 24      | Tamil Nadu        |                                   28470 |                                                   15779 |                                                                45007.6  |
| 25      | Tripura           |                                    5304 |                                                    5405 |                                                                 7763.93 |
| 26      | Uttar Pradesh     |                                  122572 |                                                  112740 |                                                                75000.7  |
| 27      | Uttarakhand       |                                   16989 |                                                   13287 |                                                                17293.3  |
| 28      | West Bengal       |                                   81314 |                                                   66696 |                                                                85818.4  |
| 29      | A&N Islands       |                                     251 |                                                       9 |                                                                 1295.69 |
| 30      | Chandigarh        |                                      10 |                                                       7 |                                                                   23.34 |
| 31      | D&NHaveli         |                                      50 |                                                       1 |                                                                   65.52 |
| 32      | Daman &Diu        |                                      32 |                                                      32 |                                                                   39.39 |
| 33      | Delhi             |                                       0 |                                                       0 |                                                                    0    |
| 34      | Lakshadweep       |                                       0 |                                                       0 |                                                                    0    |
| 35      | Puducherry        |                                      92 |                                                      92 |                                                                   55.2  |
|         | Total             |                                 1006423 |                                                  759236 |                                                               802848    |

*includes Telangana

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for 14.03.2016 raised by SHRIMATI P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER AND SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

## State-wise and Year-wise coverage of children under MDMS during last three years

| S. No   | State / UT        | 2012-13   | 2013-14   |   2014-15 |   2015-16 (up to 2 nd qtr) |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh    | 4995719   | 5833334   |   2917601 |                    2755424 |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh | 267093    | 252980    |    245291 |                     240060 |
| 3       | Assam             | 4645155   | 4429278   |   4474903 |                    4463835 |
| 4       | Bihar             | 13192268  | 13402641  |  13150423 |                   14845776 |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh      | 3405030   | 2989628   |   2877038 |                    2819400 |
| 6       | Goa               | 152364    | 147246    |    145351 |                     143386 |
| 7       | Gujarat           | 4361699   | 4409941   |   4260527 |                    4427969 |
| 8       | Haryana           | 2090263   | 1982510   |   1945224 |                    1746739 |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh  | 635444    | 569397    |    542750 |                     540721 |
| 10      | Jammu &Kashmir    | 731535    | 631572    |    712990 |                     732176 |
| 11      | Jharkhand         | 3157218   | 2972990   |   2585142 |                    2818601 |
| 12      | Karnataka         | 4946744   | 5060439   |   4767100 |                    4739904 |
| 13      | Kerala            | 2632537   | 2569376   |   2522323 |                    2484563 |
| 14      | Madhya Pradesh    | 7819654   | 7354834   |   7244591 |                    6627212 |
| 15      | Maharashtra       | 10453018  | 10330214  |   9762850 |                    9462517 |
| 16      | Manipur           | 184444    | 182662    |    186596 |                     185914 |
| 17      | Meghalaya         | 528259    | 523064    |    510550 |                     513846 |
| 18      | Mizoram           | 165792    | 160435    |    137123 |                     137977 |
| 19      | Nagaland          | 260962    | 260948    |    216786 |                     258992 |
| 20      | Orissa            | 5129182   | 5179924   |   4733551 |                    4590115 |
| 21      | Punjab            | 1760112   | 1616808   |   1653092 |                    1562731 |
| 22      | Rajasthan         | 5067599   | 4610790   |   4945930 |                    4544895 |
| 23      | Sikkim            | 83960     | 77485     |     76120 |                      69416 |
| 24      | Tamil Nadu        | 4718918   | 4810734   |   4810470 |                    4810262 |
| 25      | Telangana         |           |           |   2012329 |                    2007882 |
| 26      | Tripura           | 432497    | 367405    |    355156 |                     383126 |
| 27      | Uttar Pradesh     | 10711138  | 10105703  |  10326042 |                   10259532 |
| 28      | Uttarakhand       | 701926    | 699579    |    667647 |                     650807 |
| 29      | West Bengal       | 12201816  | 12339129  |  12098740 |                   11827141 |
| 30      | A&N Islands       | 27977     | 27977     |     27958 |                      29137 |
| 31      | Chandigarh        | 46105     | 45395     |     46779 |                      52189 |
| 32      | D&NHaveli         | 35644     | 35232     |     34320 |                      34684 |
| 33      | Daman &Diu        | 14806     | 13583     |     14232 |                      14391 |
| 34      | Delhi             | 1186555   | 1142196   |   1166583 |                    1135215 |
| 35      | Lakshadweep       | 9520      | 7831      |      7168 |                       6926 |
| 36      | Puducherry        | 52510     | 49163     |     55474 |                      47771 |
|         | Total             | 106805463 | 105192423 | 102236754 |                  101971232 |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for 14.03.2016 raised by SHRIMATI P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER AND SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

State-wise and Year-wise engagement of Cook-cum-helpers under MDMS during last three years

| S. No   | State / UT        | 2012-13   | 2013-14   |   2014-15 |   2015-16 (up to 2nd qtr) |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh    | 165227    | 166495    |     97251 |                     92429 |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh | 7842      | 7809      |      7736 |                      7736 |
| 3       | Assam             | 113447    | 115529    |    122724 |                    122724 |
| 4       | Bihar             | 168340    | 230691    |    235181 |                    235432 |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh      | 105700    | 100000    |     95524 |                     93624 |
| 6       | Goa               | 2086      | 2067      |      2067 |                      2412 |
| 7       | Gujarat           | 82558     | 89660     |     90671 |                     90615 |
| 8       | Haryana           | 30366     | 31596     |     32610 |                     30652 |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh  | 23729     | 23793     |     23478 |                     22820 |
| 10      | Jammu &Kashmir    | 25642     | 28191     |     29555 |                     29787 |
| 11      | Jharkhand         | 80601     | 81891     |     81203 |                     80960 |
| 12      | Karnataka         | 103873    | 110699    |    117842 |                    115227 |
| 13      | Kerala            | 13032     | 13737     |     13700 |                     13664 |
| 14      | Madhya Pradesh    | 239387    | 246347    |    243309 |                    241759 |
| 15      | Maharashtra       | 230184    | 163389    |    164479 |                    165146 |
| 16      | Manipur           | 4576      | 6296      |      6528 |                      6933 |
| 17      | Meghalaya         | 16426     | 16805     |     16965 |                     17053 |
| 18      | Mizoram           | 5044      | 5266      |      5166 |                      5220 |
| 19      | Nagaland          | 5527      | 5531      |      5057 |                      5057 |
| 20      | Orissa            | 123381    | 128645    |    128020 |                    126831 |
| 21      | Punjab            | 38790     | 40853     |     41820 |                     42279 |
| 22      | Rajasthan         | 117183    | 124616    |    124616 |                    119071 |
| 23      | Sikkim            | 1842      | 1888      |      1891 |                      1891 |
| 24      | Tamil Nadu        | 127305    | 127643    |    128130 |                    128130 |
| 25      | Telangana         |           |           |     55151 |                     58651 |
| 26      | Tripura           | 10815     | 10893     |     10941 |                     10926 |
| 27      | Uttar Pradesh     | 390181    | 400292    |    401378 |                    399155 |
| 28      | Uttarakhand       | 30294     | 30271     |     29397 |                     28683 |
| 29      | West Bengal       | 230825    | 232772    |    237774 |                    237545 |
| 30      | A&NIslands        | 760       | 721       |       721 |                       721 |
| 31      | Chandigarh        | 670       | 738       |       740 |                       740 |
| 32      | D&NHaveli         | 570       | 861       |       861 |                       927 |
| 33      | Daman &Diu        | 256       | 308       |       304 |                       316 |
| 34      | Delhi             | 0         | 18740     |     20845 |                     20845 |
| 35      | Lakshadweep       | 113       | 113       |       113 |                       113 |
| 36      | Puducherry        | 1031      | 1031      |      1031 |                      1031 |
|         | Total             | 2497603   | 2566177   |   2574779 |                   2557105 |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for 14.03.2016 raised by SHRIMATI P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER AND SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

## State-wise and Year-wise details of funds released under Mid Day Meal Scheme during last three years

(Rs. in lakh)

| S. No.   | States/UTs        | Central Assistance Released   | Central Assistance Released   | Central Assistance Released upto 9th March, 2016   |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | States/UTs        | 2013-14                       | 2014-15                       | 2015-16                                            |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | 44374.15                      | 31556.76                      | 29064.76                                           |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh | 4028.6                        | 3351.71                       | 1927.89                                            |
| 3        | Assam             | 45710.81                      | 47985.16                      | 31231.57                                           |
| 4        | Bihar             | 117682.53                     | 136532.1                      | 120013.29                                          |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh      | 34264.11                      | 31564.09                      | 26991.77                                           |
| 6        | Goa               | 1404.07                       | 1403.61                       | 1297.2                                             |
| 7        | Gujarat           | 49903.26                      | 44783.33                      | 38053.3                                            |
| 8        | Haryana           | 19719.92                      | 16398.99                      | 12382.8                                            |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh  | 7909.36                       | 7460.91                       | 8141.23                                            |
| 10       | Jammu &Kashmir    | 8454.62                       | 6203.3                        | 5760.4                                             |
| 11       | Jharkhand         | 35017.2                       | 21508.92                      | 23109.53                                           |
| 12       | Karnataka         | 73323.24                      | 56610.57                      | 41939.61                                           |
| 13       | Kerala            | 19201.38                      | 22575.34                      | 17120.97                                           |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh    | 81863.87                      | 79567.82                      | 60698.68                                           |
| 15       | Maharashtra       | 98376.59                      | 95059.83                      | 103072.93                                          |
| 16       | Manipur           | 1444.64                       | 3281.86                       | 1250.72                                            |
| 17       | Meghalaya         | 6333.2                        | 6247.18                       | 7024.6                                             |
| 18       | Mizoram           | 1999.56                       | 2049.78                       | 1714.49                                            |
| 19       | Nagaland          | 1754.48                       | 4226.96                       | 1073.68                                            |
| 20       | Orissa            | 61429.29                      | 49303.55                      | 39731.89                                           |
| 21       | Punjab            | 21402.83                      | 13500.81                      | 16650.04                                           |
| 22       | Rajasthan         | 44905.67                      | 41757.13                      | 39934.63                                           |
| 23       | Sikkim            | 1226.31                       | 1040.14                       | 556.09                                             |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu        | 49354.83                      | 63991.1                       | 44253.83                                           |
| 25       | Telangana         |                               | 20114.42                      | 17435.58                                           |
| 26       | Tripura           | 5073.29                       | 4827.01                       | 4946.68                                            |
| 27       | Uttarakhand       | 9525.47                       | 8931.74                       | 10419.33                                           |
| 28       | Uttar Pradesh     | 120750.57                     | 105142.49                     | 82191.37                                           |
| 29       | West Bengal       | 111333.22                     | 109189.56                     | 75582.33                                           |
| 30       | A&NIslands        | 1119.15                       | 322.2                         | 188.78                                             |
| 31       | Chandigarh        | 933.17                        | 810.479                       | 556.43                                             |
| 32       | D&NHaveli         | 480.64                        | 409.772                       | 369.38                                             |
| 33       | Daman &Diu        | 270.22                        | 213.31                        | 272.37                                             |
| 34       | Delhi             | 9948.48                       | 7892.3                        | 9449.23                                            |
| 35       | Lakshadweep       | 115.06                        | 108.81                        | 63.04                                              |
| 36       | Puducherry        | 401.52                        | 597.7                         | 520.77                                             |
|          | TOTAL             | 1091035                       | 1046521                       | 874991.19                                          |

Annexure-V

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for 14.03.2016 raised by SHRIMATI P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER AND SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

State-wise and Year-wise complaints of irregularity/Corruption reported in the MDMS during last three years

| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | Corruption   | Corruption   | Corruption   | Corruption   | Irregularities   | Irregularities   | Irregularities   | Irregularities   | Total   |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|---------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | 2013         | 2014         | 2015         | 2016         | 2013             | 2014             | 2015             | 2016             | Total   |
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh    |              |              |              |              |                  |                  | 2                |                  | 2       |
| 2.        | Arunachal Pradesh |              |              | 1            |              |                  |                  |                  |                  | 1       |
| 3.        | Assam             |              | 1            |              |              | 1                | 3                | 3                | 1                | 9       |
| 4.        | Bihar             | 3            | 10           | 4            |              | 2                | 1                | 2                | 2                | 24      |
| 5.        | Chhattisgarh      |              |              |              |              |                  |                  |                  | 2                | 2       |
| 6.        | Delhi             |              | 2            | 1            |              |                  |                  | 1                |                  | 4       |
| 7.        | Goa               |              |              |              |              | 1                |                  |                  |                  | 1       |
| 8.        | Haryana           | 2            | 3            | 2            |              | 1                | 2                |                  |                  | 10      |
| 9.        | Jharkhand         | 2            | 2            |              |              |                  |                  | 4                |                  | 8       |
| 10.       | Karnataka         |              |              |              |              |                  |                  | 1                |                  | 1       |
| 11.       | Kerala            |              |              |              |              |                  | 1                |                  |                  | 1       |
| 12.       | Madhya Pradesh    | 2            | 1            | 1            |              | 1                |                  | 1                |                  | 6       |
| 13.       | Maharashtra       |              |              | 1            |              | 3                |                  |                  |                  | 4       |
| 14.       | Odisha            | 1            |              | 1            |              |                  |                  |                  |                  | 2       |
| 15.       | Punjab            | 1            |              | 2            |              |                  | 1                |                  |                  | 4       |
| 16.       | Rajasthan         |              | 1            | 1            |              |                  |                  | 1                |                  | 3       |
| 17.       | Telangana         |              | 1            |              |              |                  |                  |                  |                  | 1       |
| 18.       | Uttarakhand       | 2            | 1            | 1            |              |                  | 1                |                  |                  | 5       |
| 19.       | Uttar Pradesh     | 3            | 10           | 11           | 1            | 5                | 4                | 3                | 3                | 40      |
| 20.       | West Bengal       | 1            | 2            | 3            | 1            | 2                |                  | 1                | 1                | 11      |
|           | Total             | 17           | 34           | 29           | 2            | 16               | 13               | 19               | 9                | 139     |

Status of action taken on aforesaid complaints of irregularity/Corruption reported in

## the MDMS during last three years

| Sl.   | Type of action                                                                                                                             | 2013    | 2013   | 2014    | 2014   | 2015    | 2015   | 2016    | 2016   | Total   |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------|---------|--------|---------|--------|---------|--------|---------|
| No.   |                                                                                                                                            | Corrupn | irreg  | Corrupn | irreg  | Corrupn | irreg  | Corrupn | irreg  |         |
| 1     | Departmental action (including warning, transfer, suspension) and action against service providers/complaint substantiated, by State Govt. | 4       | 2      |         | 1      | 1       |        |         |        | 8       |
| 2     | Under enquiry/investigation at state level                                                                                                 | 1       | -      | 3       |        |         |        |         |        | 4       |
| 3     | General corrective action, including issue of instructions to concerned, by State Govt. /GOI.                                              | -       | 5      | 1       | 3      |         |        |         |        | 9       |
| 4     | Baseless, not proved, not related toMDM                                                                                                    | 6       | 3      | 4       | 1      |         | 1      |         |        | 15      |
| 5     | Reply awaited                                                                                                                              | 6       | 6      | 26      | 8      | 28      | 18     | 2       | 9      | 103     |
| 6     | Total                                                                                                                                      | 17      | 16     | 34      | 13     | 29      | 19     | 2       | 9      | 139     |

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 227 for  14.03.2016  raised  by  SHRIMATI  P.K.SREEMATHI  TEACHER  AND  SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE regarding Mid Day Meal Scheme.

## Executive Summary

## 1. Thrust of the Question

The thrust of the question is regarding financial assistance is provided for the construction of  kitchen-cum-store  under  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme.  The  question  also  seeks  the number of students benefited, people employed and details of budget allocated by the Government to the States under the Scheme along with the cooking cost per day per children reimbursed/incurred during the last three years, State-wise and Year-wise. The question further seeks the number of complaints of irregularities/corruption, reported in the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  during  the  last  three  years  along  with  the  action  taken thereon in the States, State-wise and Year-wise. The question also seek information on monitoring mechanism to ensure that quality food and revision of the guidelines related to Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

## 2. Reply to the Question

- (a): Financial  assistance  is  provided  for  construction  of  kitchen-cum-stores  as  per  the prescribed  funding  pattern,  which  has  been  revised  w.e.f.  1.4.2015  and  is  90:10 between  Centre  and  States  for  North  Eastern  and  3  Himalayan  States,  100%  for Union  Territories  and  60:40  for  all  other  States.  The  Central  Government  has released Rs. 8028.48 crore for construction of 10.06 lakh kitchen-cum-store till 29 th February 2016. The State-wise details of sanction and construction of kitchen-cumstores are given at Annexure-I.
- (b): The number of children covered under the scheme, the number of cook-cum-helpers engaged and details of funds released by the Central Government to the States in the last three years are given at Annexure-II, Annexure-III and Annexure-IV respectively. The Cooking Cost per day per child for Mid Day Meal Scheme during the last three year is as under:

(in Rs. )

| Year    |   Primary |   Upper Primary |
|---------|-----------|-----------------|
| 2013-14 |      3.34 |            5    |
| 2014-15 |      3.59 |            5.38 |
| 2015-16 |      3.86 |            5.78 |

- (c): 139 complaints of irregularities/corruption have been reported in the Mid Day Meal Scheme  during  the  last  three  years.  The  State-wise  and  year-wise  status  of  these complaints and action taken thereon during the last three years are given at AnnexureV.
- (d): In order to ensure effective implementation of the MDMS, an elaborate monitoring mechanism  exists  at  both  State  and  the  Central  levels.  At  the  national  level,  an Empowered  Committee,  headed  by  Minister  of  Human  Resource  Development (HRD), a National level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (NSMC) and Programme Approval Board (PAB) monitor the Scheme and suggest policy measures for effective implementation of the Scheme. At the State level, there is a State level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee headed by Chief Secretary and at the District

Level, there is a District Level Committee under the Chairpersonship of senior most Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha to monitor the scheme. Joint Review Missions (JRM) consisting of experts also review the scheme through field visits. The Central Government  have  issued  updated  guidelines  on  Food,  Safety  and  Hygiene  on February,  2015  covering  aspects  related  to  procurements,  storage,  cooking,  serving and waste disposal of food so as to ensure quality of meals being served in schools. Further  the  Government  have  also  notified  Mid  Day  Meal  Rules  2015  under  the National Food Security Act. The rules inter alia provide for testing of meals through Government recognized laboratories.

- (e): The Guidelines are revised from time to time as per suggestion/inputs from various stakeholders. There is no immediate proposal to revise the guideline of Mid Day Meal Scheme.

## 3. Guidelines issued from time to time

## 3.1 Summary of instructions issued to States / UTs

|   Sl. No. | Date                  | Subject                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | 27 th September, 2007 | Extension of MDMProgramme to Upper Primary in EBBs                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|         2 | 21 st April, 2008     | Extension of MDM Programme to eligible Madarsas/ Maqtabs                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|         3 | 24 th November, 2009  | Revision of food norms, cooking cost, honorarium to cook- cum-helpers                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|         4 | 24 th November, 2009  | Revision of Transportation Assistance to 11 special category States                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|         5 | 31 st December, 2009  | Revised norms for Cost of Construction of Kitchen-cum-Store                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|         7 | 10 th February, 2010  | Guidelines for decentralized payment of cost of Foodgrain to FCI                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|         8 | 21 st June, 2010      | Revised Guidelines for Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (MME) Component                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|         9 | 29 th July, 2010      | Letter regarding Engagement of Cooks-cum-Helpers under Mid Day Meal Scheme (apportionment)                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        10 | 30 th August, 2010    | State Level Steering cum Monitoring Committee (SSMC)                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|        11 | 8 th September, 2010  | Guidelines for engagement of Voluntary Organisations / NGOs                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|        12 | 27 th October, 2011   | Guidelines for providing MDM to children of National Child Labour Project (NCLP)                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|        13 | 1 st July, 2012       | Use of double fortified salt forMDMS                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|        14 | 22 nd July, 2013      | Guidelines to ensure, safety and hygiene under the MDM Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        16 | 6 th June 2014        | Revision of norms for cooking cost under MDM in Schools from the year 2014-15                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        17 | 5 th July, 2014       | Revised nomenclature of EGS/ AlE centres, NCLP schools to Special Training Centres (STCs) under Mid Day Meal Scheme                                                                                                                                               |
|        18 | 16 th July 2014       | HRM letter to Hon'ble Members of Parliament regarding District Level Committee under the Chairpersonship of senior most MP (Lok Sabha) of the district, strengthening of monitoring mechanism and use of MPLADS fund for construction of dining space in schools. |
|        19 | 22 nd August 2014     | Convergences between Education Department and State/UT Health Department for monitoring of the health of school going children.                                                                                                                                   |

|   Sl. No. | Date                  | Subject                                                                                                      |
|-----------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        20 | 25 th September, 2014 | Reimbursement of expenditure incurred by the States / UTs for the procurement of unsubsidized LPG cylinders. |
|        21 | 20 th November, 2014  | Adoption of practices of Tithi Bhojan                                                                        |
|        22 | 02 nd February, 2015  | Revised guidelines for restructuring of the composition of Joint Review Mission (JRM)                        |
|        23 | 13 th February, 2015  | Guidelines on food Safety and Hygiene for school level kitchens under Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme              |

## 3.2 Guidelines on Food Safety and Hygiene for School Level Kitchens under MidDay Meal (MDM) Scheme.

Guidelines  on  Food  Safety  and  Hygiene  for  School  Level  Kitchens  under  Mid-Day  Meal (MDM) Scheme were issued on 13.2.2015. These broad guidelines are prepared with a goal to  help  the  States/UTs  on  the  safety  aspects  of  procurement,  storage,  serving  &  waste disposal  of  the  food  items.  These  guidelines  also  aims  to  address  the  issues  of  personal hygiene  of  the  students  and  those  involved  in  cooking  and  serving  of  Mid-day  Meal. Emphasis has been given on the  methods for cooking of green leafy vegetables  and  other food articles with minimal loss of vitamins and minerals so that the prepared mid-day meal should provide adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins to the children for their proper physical  and  mental  development.  The  processes  of  procurement  and  storage  of  fresh vegetables  and  other  perishable  items  have  been  provided  so  that  the  nutrient  losses  are minimal and the prepared Mid-day meal should provide prescribed calories proteins & other nutrients. Importance of training of cook cum helper on food hygiene and food safety aspects along  with  personal  hygiene,  the  nature  of  food,  its  handling,  preparation,  service  and distribution has been provided. The States can prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the purpose. The tasting of the food by a teacher/SMC member shall bring the community closer  and  develop  sense  of  ownership  among  the  community  towards  this  flagship Programme. Testing of cooked Mid-day Meal at a set interval shall create a monitoring/check on the calorific value and bacteria free Mid-day meal. To help the children by inculcating the good  habits  of  hand  washing  and  eating  Mid-day  Meal  in  an  orderly  manner  will  add  to nation building by making them worthy citizen of India.

## 4. Coverage of children in primary and upper primary during the last 5 years.

(figure in crore)

| Year         |   Primary |   Upper Primary |   Total |
|--------------|-----------|-----------------|---------|
| 2010-11      |      7.33 |            3.13 |   10.46 |
| 2011-12      |      7.18 |            3.36 |   10.54 |
| 2012-13      |      7.21 |            3.47 |   10.68 |
| 2013-14      |      7.1  |            3.69 |   10.79 |
| 2014-15      |      6.66 |            3.56 |   10.22 |
| 2015-16 (Q2) |      6.61 |            3.58 |   10.19 |

(Figure in lakh)

## 5. Coverage of institutions under MDMS in last 5 years.

| Year         |   Primary |   Upper Primary |   Total |
|--------------|-----------|-----------------|---------|
| 2010-11      |      8.55 |            3.63 |   12.18 |
| 2011-12      |      8.51 |            3.8  |   12.31 |
| 2012-13      |      8.41 |            3.72 |   12.13 |
| 2013-14      |      7.75 |            3.84 |   11.59 |
| 2014-15      |      7.36 |            4.2  |   11.56 |
| 2015-16 (Q2) |      7.31 |            4.22 |   11.54 |

## 6. BE, releases and utilization of funds during the last 5 years

Mid Day Meal Scheme, funding pattern has been changed and brought down from 75:25 to 60:40 for Non-NER States from 1 st April, 2015. The release and expenditure during the last 4 years is as under:

( in crore)

|                   |   2011-12 |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 | 2015-16   |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Budget allocation |  10380    |     11937 |   13215   |     13215 | 9236.40   |
| Releases          |   9901.91 |     10868 |   10927.2 |     10527 | 8749.91*  |

## *releases as on date

It  is  evident from the above that Rs.  8749.91 crore (94.7%) against the budget estimate of Rs. 9236.40 crore have been released to the States /UTs during the current year.

It  is  worthy  to  mention  that  9  States  viz.  Andhra  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Goa,  Jharkhand, Kerala,  Odisha,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana  and  West  Bengal  are  contributing  more  than  their minimum mandatory share towards cooking cost.

## 7. Central Assistance for construction of kitchen-cum-stores

The  Central  Government  started  providing  100%  Central  Assistance  for  construction  of kitchen-cum-stores since 2006-07 at a flat rate of Rs.60,000 per unit. Based on the persistent demands of the States/UTs,  the  norms  for  kitchen-cum-stores  was  revised  from  1.12.2009 and now the cost of construction of kitchen-cum-store is determined on the basis of plinth area norms and State Schedule of Rates prevalent in the State/UT on sharing basis.

This Department vide letter No.1-1/2009-Desk (MDM) dated 31.12.2009 has prescribed 20 sq. mt. plinth area for construction of Kitchen-cum-Store in schools having upto 100 children. For  every  additional  upto100  children,  additional  4  sq.  mt.  plinth  area  will  be  added. States/UTs have the flexibility to modify the slab of 100 children depending upon the local conditions.

10.06 lakh kitchen-cum-stores were sanctioned during 2006-14. So far a total number of 7.59 lakh  (75%)  kitchen-cum-stores  have  been  constructed  and  another  1.28  lakh  (13%)  are  in progress  upto  September,  2015.  The  construction  work  in  1.19  lakh  (12%)  kitchen-cumstores  is  yet  to  start.  The  major  defaulting  States  are  Andhra  Pradesh,  Telangana,  Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, A&N Islands, Jharkhand, J&K, Manipur, Chandigarh etc.

## 8. States / UTs contributing more than their mandatory share towards honorarium to cook-cum-helpers

|   S. No. | State/UT            |   Honorarium to cook cum helpers (in Rs.) |
|----------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Chhattisgarh        |                                      1200 |
|        2 | Haryana             |                                      2500 |
|        3 | Karnataka           |                                      1700 |
|        4 | Kerala              |                                      4750 |
|        5 | Mizoram             |                                      1500 |
|        6 | Punjab              |                                      1200 |
|        7 | Tamil Nadu          |                                      5000 |
|        8 | Uttarakhand         |                                      1500 |
|        9 | West Bengal         |                                      1500 |
|       11 | Chandigarh          |                                      2622 |
|       12 | Dadra &Nagar Haveli |                                      3126 |
|       13 | Daman &Diu          |                                      3126 |
|       13 | Lakshadweep         |                                      7500 |
|       14 | Puducherry          |                                     14000 |

## 9. Contribution of States/UTs towards cooking cost

## 9.1 State contribution more than minimum mandatory share towards cooking cost in in Primary

|   S. No. | State/UT       |   Cooking Cost |
|----------|----------------|----------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh |           4.86 |
|        2 | Chhattisgarh   |           4.42 |
|        3 | Goa            |           5.71 |
|        4 | Kerala         |           5    |
|        5 | Mizoram        |           4.67 |
|        6 | Orissa         |           4.31 |
|        7 | Tamil Nadu     |           6.78 |
|        8 | Tripura        |           3.97 |
|        9 | A&N Islands    |           8.69 |
|       10 | Chandigarh     |           6.72 |
|       11 | D&N Haveli     |          11.61 |
|       12 | Daman &Diu     |          10.75 |
|       13 | Lakshadweep    |          10.89 |
|       14 | Puducherry     |          12.9  |

## 9.2 State contribution more than minimum mandatory share towards cooking cost in in Upper Primary

|   S. No. | State/UT       |   Cooking Cost |
|----------|----------------|----------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh |           6.78 |
|        2 | Goa            |           6.79 |
|        3 | Mizoram        |           5.9  |
|        4 | Orissa         |           6.43 |
|        5 | Tamil Nadu     |           6.88 |
|        6 | A&N Islands    |          10.04 |
|        7 | Chandigarh     |           7.65 |
|        8 | D&N Haveli     |          13.95 |
|        9 | Daman &Diu     |          12.85 |
|       10 | Lakshadweep    |          13.04 |
|       11 | Puducherry     |          15.4  |

## 10. State wise complaints under MDMS received since 2012 (till 31.12.2015)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | Misappropriation / corruption   | Poor Quality   | Irregularities   | Castism   |   Total |
|-----------|-------------------|---------------------------------|----------------|------------------|-----------|---------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    | 1                               | 2              | 2                | -         |       5 |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh | 1                               | -              | -                | -         |       1 |
| 3         | A&NIslands        | -                               | 1              | -                | -         |       1 |
| 4         | Assam             | 1                               | 1              | 7                | -         |       9 |
| 5         | Bihar             | 19                              | 23             | 7                | -         |      49 |
| 6         | Chandigarh        | -                               | 1              | -                | -         |       1 |
| 7         | Chhattisgarh      | -                               | 5              | -                | -         |       5 |
| 8         | Delhi             | 3                               | 11             | 1                | -         |      15 |
| 9         | Gujarat           | -                               | 2              | -                | 1         |       3 |
| 10        | Goa               | -                               | 1              | 1                | -         |       2 |
| 11        | Haryana           | 9                               | 3              | 3                | -         |      15 |
| 12        | Himachal Pradesh  | -                               | 1              | -                | -         |       1 |
| 13        | Jharkhand         | 5                               | 6              | 7                | -         |      18 |
| 14        | Karnataka         | -                               | 5              | 2                | 2         |       9 |
| 15        | Kerala            | -                               | -              | 1                | -         |       1 |
| 16        | Madhya Pradesh    | 4                               | 8              | 3                | 1         |      16 |
| 17        | Maharashtra       | 3                               | 8              | 3                | -         |      14 |
| 18        | Odisha            | 1                               | 10             | 1                | -         |      12 |
| 19        | Punjab            | 3                               | -              | 2                | -         |       5 |
| 20        | Rajasthan         | 2                               | 2              | 2                | 1         |       7 |
| 21        | Tamil Nadu        | -                               | 1              | -                | -         |       1 |
| 22        | Telangana         | -                               | 1              | -                | 1         |       2 |
| 23        | Tripura           | -                               | 1              | -                | -         |       1 |
| 24        | Uttarakhand       | 4                               | -              | 3                | -         |       7 |
| 25        | Uttar Pradesh     | 29                              | 24             | 14               | -         |      67 |
| 26        | West Bengal       | 7                               | 4              | 5                | -         |      16 |
|           | Total             | 92                              | 121            | 64               | 6         |     283 |

- 10.1. Details of complaints and action taken thereon

| Sl. No .   | Type of action                                                                                                                             | 2012   | 2012   | 2012   | 2012   | 2013   | 2013   | 2013   | 2013   | 2014   | 2014   | 2014       | 2014   | 2015   | 2015   | 2015   | Total   |
|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|---------|
|            |                                                                                                                                            | PQ     | Misap  | irre   | caste  | PQ     | Misap  | irre   | caste  | PQ     | Misap  | irre caste | PQ     | Misap  | irre   | caste  |         |
| 1          | Reply awaited                                                                                                                              | 1      | 2      | -      | -      | 2      | 6      | 6      | - 17   | 26     | 9      | -          | 25     | 27     | 20     | 3      | 144     |
| 2          | Under enquiry/investigati on at state level                                                                                                | -      | 1      | -      | -      | 3      | 0      | -      | - 4    | 3      | -      | -          | 2      | -      | -      | -      | 13      |
| 3          | Departmental action (including warning, transfer, suspension) and action against service providers/complaint substantiated, by State Govt. | 7      | 5      | 1      | -      | 6      | 5      | 2      | - 10   | -      | 1      | -          | 13     | 1      | -      | -      | 51      |
| 4          | General corrective action, including issue of instructions to concerned, by State Govt. /GOI.                                              | 4      | 1      | 7      | -      | 5      | -      | 5 -    | 4      | 1      | 3      | -          | 3      | -      | -      | -      | 33      |
| 5          | Baseless, not proved, not related toMDM                                                                                                    | 2      | 4      | 7      | -      | 2      | 6      | 3 2    | 6      | 4      | -      | 1          | 5      | -      | -      | -      | 42      |
| 6          | Total                                                                                                                                      | 14     | 13     | 15     |        | 18     | 17     | 16 2   | 41     | 34     | 13     | 1          | 48     | 28     | 20     | 3      | 283     |
| 7          | Overall number of complaints received.                                                                                                     | 42     | 42     | 42     | 42     | 53     | 53     | 53     | 53     | 89     | 89     | 89         | 99     | 99     | 99     | 99     | 283     |

Abstract of various types of action taken on complaints received since 2012 (as on 15.02.2016)

**************

## 1. Introduction

1.1 With  a  view  to  enhancing  enrolment,  retention  and  attendance  and  simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children, the National Programme of Nutritional Support to  Primary  Education ( NP-NSPE )  was  launched as  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme on 15 th August 1995 , in 2,408 blocks in the country as a dry ration scheme. Under this programme, food grains @ 3 kgs per student / per month was provided to all the children of classes I-V in all Government, Local body and Government aided schools in all the States and UTs subject to a minimum of 80% attendance of such children.  By the year 1997-98 the NP-NSPE was extended  to  all  blocks  of  the  country.  Under  the  order  dated  28 th November,  2001  of  the Supreme Court this became a cooked Mid Day Meal Scheme under which, every child in every  Government  and  Government  assisted  primary  schools  was  to  be  served  a  prepared Mid Day Meal with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 gram protein per day for a minimum of 200 days. Central Assistance under the scheme consisted of free supply of food grains @ 100 grams per child per school day, and subsidy for transportation of food grains up to  a  maximum  of  Rs  50  per  quintal.  There  was  no  provision  for  Central  assistance  for cooking cost. However, 13 States and 6 UTs provided cooked meal to all children from their own budget. 10 States and 1 UT provided cooked meal partially. The Scheme was further extended in 2002 to cover not only children studying in Government and Government aided schools but also the Special Training Centres.

1.2. In September  2004 the  Scheme  was  revised  to  provide  for  Central  Assistance  for Cooking  cost  @  Rs.  1  per  child  per  school  day.  Cooking  cost  included  cost  of  pulses, vegetables cooking oil, condiments, fuel and wages and  remuneration payable to personnel or amount payable to agency (e.g. SHG, VEC / SMDC), responsible for cooking. Transport subsidy was also raised from the earlier maximum of Rs 50 per quintal to Rs. 100 per quintal for  special  category  states  and  Rs  75  per  quintal  for  other  states.  Central  assistance  was provided for the first time for management, monitoring and evaluation of the scheme @ 2% of the cost of foodgrains, transport subsidy and cooking assistance. A provision for serving mid day meal during summer vacation in drought affected areas was also made.

1.3 In July 2006 the Scheme was further revised to enhance the cooking cost to Rs 1.80 per  child/school  day  for  States  in  the  North  Eastern  Region,  provided  the  NER  states contribute  minimum  Rs  0.20  per  child/school  day,  and  Rs  1.50  per  child  /  school  day  for other  States  and  UTs,  provided  these  States  and  UTs  contribute  minimum  Rs  0.50  per child/school day. The nutritional norm was revised to 450 Calories and 12 gram of protein. In order to facilitate  construction of  kitchen-cum-store  and  procurement of kitchen devices in schools provision for Central assistance @ Rs. 60,000 per unit and @ Rs. 5,000 per school in phased  manner  were  made.  The  existing  system  of  reimbursement  of  transport  subsidy  to States / UTs was modified to grant-in-aid system like other components of Central assistance under the Scheme.

1.4 In October 2007, the Scheme was extended to cover children of upper primary classes (i.e.  class  VI  to  VIII)  studying  in  3,479  Educationally  Backwards  Blocks  (EBBs)  and  the name  of  the  Scheme  was  changed  from  'National  Programme  of  Nutritional  Support  to Primary Education' to 'National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools'. The nutritional norm for upper primary stage was fixed at 700 Calories and 20 grams of protein. The Scheme was extended to all areas across the country from 1.4.2008.

1.5 The Scheme was revised in April 2008 to extend the scheme to Madarsas / Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

## NOTE FOR SUPPLIMENTARIES

## 2. Revision of scheme in 2009

- 2.1 In November, 2009 , the Scheme was again revised with the following modifications:-

## 2.1.1 Revision of the food norm

The revision of food norms for Upper Primary children by increasing the quantity of pulses from 25 to 30 grams, vegetables from 65 to 75 grams and by decreasing the quantity of oil and fat from 10 grams to 7.5 grams. The food norm after this revision from 1.12.2009 is as under:

| S. No.   | Items                   | Quantity Per Day   | Quantity Per Day   |
|----------|-------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|          |                         | Primary            | Upper Primary      |
| 1.       | Food grains             | 100 gms            | 150 gms            |
| 2.       | Pulse                   | 20 gms             | 30 gms             |
| 3.       | Vegetables (leafy also) | 50 gms             | 75 gms             |
| 4.       | Oil &fat                | 5 gms              | 7.5 gms            |
| 5.       | Salt &Condiments        | As per need        | As per need        |

## 2.1.2 Enhancement of cooking cost

Enhancement of cooking cost (excluding the labour and administrative charges) to Rs. 2.50 for  primary and Rs. 3.75 for upper primary children for the balance period  of financial year 2009-10 from 1.12.2009 and to further enhance it by 7.5% on 1.4.2010 and again on 1.4.2011, 1.7.2012, 1.7.2013, 1.7.2014 and 1.7.2015.  The share of the Centre   and the minimum share of the State/UTs w.e.f. 1.12.2009 are as under:

| Year                     | Stage   | Total Cost per meal   | Centre-State sharing   | Centre-State sharing   | Centre-State sharing   | Centre-State sharing   |
|--------------------------|---------|-----------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
|                          |         |                       | Non-NER States(75:25)  | Non-NER States(75:25)  | NER States (90:10)     | NER States (90:10)     |
|                          |         |                       | Centre                 | State                  | Centre                 | State                  |
| 2009-10 (from 1.12.2009) | Py.     | Rs.2.50               | Rs.1.88                | Rs.0.62                | Rs.2.25                | Rs.0.25                |
| 2009-10 (from 1.12.2009) | U. Py.  | Rs.3.75               | Rs.2.81                | Rs.0.94                | Rs.3.38                | Rs.0.37                |
| 2010-11                  | Py.     | Rs.2.69               | Rs.2.02                | Rs.0.67                | Rs.2.42                | Rs.0.27                |
| 2010-11                  | U. Pry. | Rs.4.03               | Rs.3.02                | Rs.1.01                | Rs.3.63                | Rs.0.40                |
| 2011-12                  | Pry.    | Rs.2.89               | Rs.2.17                | Rs.0.72                | Rs.2.60                | Rs.0.29                |
| 2011-12                  | U. Py.  | Rs.4.33               | Rs.3.25                | Rs.1.08                | Rs.3.90                | Rs.0.43                |
| 2012-13                  | Py.     | Rs.3.11               | Rs.2.33                | Rs.0.78                | Rs.2.80                | Rs.0.31                |
| 2012-13                  | U Py.   | Rs.4.65               | Rs.3.49                | Rs.1.16                | Rs.4.19                | Rs.0.46                |
| 2013-14                  | Py      | Rs.3.34               | Rs.2.51                | Rs.0.83                | Rs.3.01                | Rs.0.33                |
| 2013-14                  | U. Py   | Rs.5.00               | Rs.3.75                | Rs.1.25                | Rs.4.5                 | Rs.0.50                |
| 2014-15                  | Pry     | Rs.3.59               | Rs.2.69                | Rs.0.90                | Rs.3.23                | Rs.0.36                |
| 2014-15                  | U. Py   | Rs.5.38               | Rs.4.04                | Rs.1.34                | Rs.4.84                | Rs.0.54                |
| 2015-16*                 | Pry.    | Rs. 3.86              | Rs.2.32                | Rs.1.54                | Rs.3.47                | Rs.0.39                |
| 2015-16*                 | U. Pry. | Rs. 5.78              | Rs 3.47                | Rs. 2.31               | Rs.5.20                | Rs.0.58                |

*The  funding  pattern  of  the  Scheme  has  been  revised  for  the  year  2015-16  and accordingly the cooking cost will be shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 60:40 for non-NER States, 100% for UTs and 90:10 for NER States and 3 Himalayan States viz  Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Utlarakhand.  The Cooking cost for UTs are  Rs 3.86 and Rs 5.78 for Pry and U. Pry. children respectively . Cooking cost includes costs of pulses, vegetables, cooking oil and condiments and fuel.

## 2.1.3 Honorarium to Cook-cum-Helpers

Honorarium  of  Rs.1000/-  per month  from  1.12.2009  to  cook-cum-helper  and engagement of one cook-cum-helper for schools with up to 25 students, two cooks- sum-helpers for schools with 26 to 100 students and one additional cook-cum-helper for every addition of up to 100 students.  At present, 25.74 lakh Cook-cum-helpers have been engaged by States/UTs against the approval of 27.39 lakh. The expenditure towards  the  honorarium  of  cook-cum-helper  is  shared  between  the  Centre  and  the States in the ratio of 60:40 for non-NER States, 100% for UTs and 90:10 for NER States  and  3  Himalayan  States  viz    Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and Utlarakhand.

## 2.1.4 Central Assistance for construction of kitchen-cum-stores

The Central Government started providing 100% Central Assistance for construction of kitchen-cum-stores since 2006-07 at a flat rate of Rs.60,000 per unit. Based on the persistent  demands  of  the  States/UTs,  the  norms  for  kitchen-cum-stores  has  been revised  from  1.12.2009  and  now  the  cost  of  construction  of  kitchen-cum-store  is determined on the basis of plinth area norms and State Schedule of Rates prevalent in the State/UT on sharing basis.

This Department vide letter  No.1-1/2009-Desk  (MDM)  dated  31.12.2009 has prescribed  20  sq.  mt.  plinth  area  for  construction  of  Kitchen-cum-Store  in  schools having upto 100 children.  For every additional upto100 children, additional 4 sq. mt. plinth  area  will  be  added.  States/UTs have the flexibility to  modify the slab of 100 children depending upon the local conditions.

10.06 lakh kitchen-cum-stores were sanctioned during 2006-14. So far a total number of  7.59lakh  kitchen-cum-stores  have  been  constructed  and  another  1.28  lakh  are  in progress  upto  September,  2015.  The  construction  work  in  1.19  lakh  kitchen-cumstores  is  yet  to  start.  The  major  defaulting  States  are  Andhra  Pradesh,  Telangana, Assam,  Bihar,  Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan,  Uttar  Pradesh,  West  Bengal, Haryana, Kerala, A&N Islands, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand etc.

For procurement of kitchen devices, so far, Central assistance of Rs. 647.89 crores has been released to States/UTs for procurement of kitchen devices in 12.96 lakhs schools (excluding replacement) and Central assistance of Rs.343.39 crores for replacement of kitchen devices in 6.87 lakhs schools.

## 2.1.5 Transportation Assistance

Transportation assistance in the 11 States (viz. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Manipur,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Sikkim, Uttarakhand  and  Tripura)  is  at  par  with  the  PDS  rates  prevalent  in  these  States. Transport Assistance in States/UTs other than 11 States, is @ Rs.750 per MT.

## 2.1.6 Decentralization of payment of cost of foodgrains by States/UTs

Decentralization  of  payment  of  cost  of  foodgrains  to  the  FCI  to  the  district  levels w.e.f. 1.4.2010 with the conditions that districts have to make payment within 20 days after receiving the bills from FCI. The Regional offices of FCI have to submit bills by the 10 th day of the next month in the prescribed format.

## 3. Evolution path of MDM Scheme

The  chart  below  shows  the  expenditure  on  the  scheme,  with  the  evolution  of  the scheme.

## Expenditure / Release under MDMS

<!-- image -->

## 4. Objectives of the Mid Day Meal Scheme

The  objectives  of  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  are  to  address  two  of  the  pressing problems for majority of children in India, viz. hunger and education by:

- i) Improving  the  nutritional  status  of  children  in  classes  I  -  VIII  in  Government, Government  aided  schools,  Special  Training  Centres  and  Madarsas/Maqtab supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
2. ii) Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
3. iii) Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.

## 5. Rationale of the scheme

- i) Preventing classroom hunger : Many children belonging to disadvantage section of society reach school with an empty stomach. Even children, who have a meal before  they  leave  for  school,  get  hungry  by  the  afternoon  and  are  not  able  to concentrate. Mid day meal can help children from families, which cannot afford a lunch  box  or  are  staying  a  long  distance  away  from  schools  to  overcome 'classroom hunger'.
2. ii) Promoting  school  participation :  Mid  day  meals  have  big  effects  on  school participation, not just in terms of getting more children enrolled in the registers but also in terms of regular pupil attendance on a daily basis.
3. iii) Facilitating healthy growth of children : Mid day meal can also act as a regular source of 'supplementary nutrition' for children and facilitate their healthy growth.
4. iv) Intrinsic  educational  value : A well-organized  mid day  meal  can  be  used  as  an opportunity to impart various good habits to children (such as washing one's hands before and after eating) and to educate them about the importance of clean water, good hygiene and other related matters.
- v) Fostering  social  equality :  Mid  day  meal  can  help  spread  egalitarian  values,  as children from various social backgrounds learn to sit together and share a common meal. In particular, mid day meal can help to break the barriers of caste and class among  school.  Appointing  cooks  from  SC/ST  communities  is  another  way  of teaching children to overcome caste prejudices.
6. vi) Enhancing gender equity : The gender gap in school participation tends to narrow, as the Mid Day Meal Scheme helps erode the barriers that prevent girls from going to school. Mid Day Meal Scheme also provides a useful source of employment for women and helps liberate working  women from  the  burden  of  cooking  at  home during the day. In these and other ways, women and girl children have a special stake in Mid Day Meal Scheme.
7. vii) Psychological Benefits : Physiological deprivation leads to low self-esteem, consequent  insecurity,  anxiety  and  stress.  The  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  can  help address these and facilitate cognitive, emotional and social development.

## 6. Nutritional content

- 6.1 To  achieve  the  objectives  of  the  Scheme,  the  guidelines  prescribe  the  following nutritional content in the mid day meal:

| Components      | Primary                                                                       | Upper Primary                                                                 |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Calories        | 450 Cal                                                                       | 700 Cal                                                                       |
| Protein         | 12 gms.                                                                       | 20 gms.                                                                       |
| Micro-nutrients | Adequate quantities of micro-nutrients like Iron, Folic Acid , Vitamin-A etc. | Adequate quantities of micro-nutrients like Iron, Folic Acid , Vitamin-A etc. |

6.2 The stage wise and component-wise break up of above nutrition value of food items constituting Mid Day Meal (MDM), both for primary and upper primary, are as under:-

| S. No.   | Items                      | Primary Stage       | Primary Stage                | Primary Stage            | Upper Primary Stage   | Upper Primary Stage          | Upper Primary Stage      |
|----------|----------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
| S. No.   | Items                      | Food norms (in gms) | Energy content (in calories) | Protein Content (in gms) | Food norms (in gms)   | Energy content (in calories) | Protein Content (in gms) |
| 1.       | Foodgrains (Rice / Wheat)  | 100                 | 340                          | 8                        | 150                   | 510                          | 14                       |
| 2.       | Pulses                     | 20                  | 70                           | 5                        | 30                    | 105                          | 6.6                      |
| 3.       | Vegetables (Leafy& Others) | 50                  | 25                           | --                       | 75                    | 37                           | --                       |
| 4.       | Oil &Fat                   | 5                   | 45                           | --                       | 7.5                   | 68                           | --                       |
| 5.       | Salt& Condiments           | As per need         | --                           | --                       | As per need           | --                           | --                       |
|          |                            |                     | 480                          | 13                       |                       | 720                          | 20.6                     |

## 7. Components of the Scheme

## 7.1    Entirely borne by the Central Government

Under  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  the  Central  Government  bears  the  entire  cost  in respect of the following components.

## i) Foodgrains

Under  the  Scheme  foodgrains  (wheat  and  rice)  @100  gram  per  child  per school  day  for  primary  &  @150  gram  per  child  per  school  day  for  upper primary is provided for which the cost is paid by the Government of India in the shape of grant-in-aid to States/UTs. The States and UTs lift the foodgrains from FCI go-downs at regional / district levels and make the payment directly to FCI.

## ii) Transportation Cost

The Government of India bears 100% cost of transportation of foodgrains from the nearest FCI go-down to the schools for which grants-in-aid is given to the States/UTs.  With effect from 1.12.2009 the transportation cost in the 11 States (viz.  Assam,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  &  Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Tripura) has  been  brought  at  par  with  the  Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  rates prevalent in these States. In case of all other States/UTs, Central Assistance to meet the cost of transportation of foodgrains is given @ Rs. 75 per Quintal or the actual cost incurred whichever is less.

## iii) Monitoring, Management and Evaluation (MME)

Management, Monitoring & Evaluation (MME) component is calculated @ 2% of the total assistance for (a) food grains, (b) transportation cost, (c) cooking cost and (d) honorarium to cook-cum-helpers. Of the 2%, 1.8% is given to the States/UTs as Central Assistance and 0.2% is utilized at the National level for management, monitoring and evaluation purposes.

## iv) Procurement of kitchen devices

One  time  Central  Assistance  @  Rs.5000  is  provided  to  States/UTs  for provisioning and replacement of kitchen devices per school for five years. The central assistance @ Rs. 5000/- per school is also provided for replacement of the same after every five years.

## 7.2 On sharing basis between Centre and States / UTs

Under the Mid Day Meal Scheme the cost of the following components is shared between the Centre and the NER States on 90:10 basis and with other States /UTs on 75:25 basis:

## i) Cooking cost

The  cooking  cost  was  revised  from 1.12.2009  (excluding  the  labour  and administrative  charges)  to  Rs.  2.50  for  primary  and  Rs.  3.75  for  upper primary. Since 01.04.2010 cooking cost is being upward revised annually by 7.5%.  The present cooking cost as per revised funding pattern is as under:

| Stage   | Total cooking cost per meal   | Centre-State sharing   | Centre-State sharing   | Centre-State sharing                       | Centre-State sharing                       |
|---------|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|         |                               | Non-NER States(60:40)  | Non-NER States(60:40)  | NER States and 03 Himalayan States (90:10) | NER States and 03 Himalayan States (90:10) |
|         |                               | Centre                 | State                  | Centre                                     | State                                      |
| Pry.    | Rs.3.86                       | Rs.2.32                | Rs.1.54                | Rs.3.47                                    | Rs.0.39                                    |
| U. Pry. | Rs.5.78                       | Rs.3.47                | Rs.2.31                | Rs.5.20                                    | Rs.0.58                                    |

## ii) Kitchen-cum-Store

The  Central  Government  started  providing  100%  Central  Assistance  for construction of  kitchen-cum-stores  since  2006-07  at  a  flat  rate  of  Rs.60,000 per  unit.  Based  on  the  persistent  demands  of  the  States/UTs,  the  norms  for kitchen-cum-stores  has  been  revised  from  1.12.2009  and  now  the  cost  of construction  of  kitchen-cum-store  is  determined  on  the  basis  of  plinth  area norms and State Schedule of Rates prevalent in the State/UT on sharing basis.

## iii) Honorarium to Cooks-cum-Helpers

An honorarium of Rs.1000 per month per cook-cum-helper for 10 months was introduced from 1.12.2009. The norms for engagement of cook-cum-helper is; one cook-cum-helper for schools up to 25 students, two cooks-sum-helpers for schools with 26 to 100 students and one additional cook-cum-helper for every addition of up to 100 students.

- iv) Reimbursement  of  expenditure  incurred  by  the  States  /  UTs  for  procurement  of unsubsidized LPG cylinders

## 7.3 Budget allocation for the year 2015-16

The budget allocation for the year 2015-16 is Rs. 9236.40 crore and component-wise details are as under:

<!-- image -->

## 8. Implementation of the Mid Day Meal Scheme

The overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious mid day meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.  States/ UTs have to  ensure  that  all  logistic  and  administrative  arrangement  are  made  to  ensure  regular serving  of  wholesome,  nutritious  and  cooked  meal  in  every  eligible  school.  This  includes development of adequate infrastructure viz.  construction of kitchen-cum-store, and kitchen devices, through funding made under the Scheme and mobilization of additional resources through convergence with other developmental programmes of other departments or State / UT budgetary support. Drinking water and toilet facilities are to be created in convergence with SSA, Drinking Water Mission and Total Sanitation Programme.

The  guidelines  of  the  scheme  provide  that  in  States  which  have  devolved  the  function  of 'Primary  Education'  to  Panchayats  and  Urban  Local  Bodies  through  legislation  and/or executive  order,  the  responsibility  of  implementation  and  day  to  day  supervision  of  the programme  shall  be  assigned  to  the  Gram  Panchayat/Municipality.  Standing  Committees may be constituted by the Gram Panchayats and Municipalities to oversee the implementation  of  the  programmes.    Alternatively,  already  existing  Standing  Committees, which have been assigned the task of supervising education related issues may be entrusted the task of monitoring, review and taking other necessary steps for the smooth implementation  of  the  scheme.  The  Gram  Panchayat/Municipality  may,  in  turn,  assign responsibility of the day-to-day management of the programme at school level to the Village Education  Committee/  School  Management  &  Development  Committee or  Parent-Teacher Association as the case may be.

School  Management  should  also  be  encouraged  to  draw  the  support  of  the  community including  mother  groups.  Gram  Panchayat  and  Village  Education  Committee  may  be approached  for  organizing  community  members  to  regularly,  on  a  rotation  basis,  help  the school  management  in  ensuring  efficient  cooking,  serving  and  cleaning  operations.  It  has been  clarified  that  teachers  are  not  to  be  involved  in  cooking  or  its  supervision  in  any manner, as it would affect the teaching-learning process adversely. However, the involvement of teachers and community members in ensuring that children eat together in a spirit of camaraderie and develop sensitivity to their peers with different abilities by offering them precedence and instilling values of equality and cooperation could be very effective in attaining the objectives of the programme.

Support of the community members could also be solicited to ensure that children wash their hands  properly  before  eating,  use  clean  plates  and  glasses,  avoid  littering  and  wastage  of food, and clean their plates, rinse their hands and mouth after eating. Mid Day Meal Scheme also offers wide opportunity of self-employment to poor women who could constitute selfhelp  groups.  Such  group  can  take  the  responsibility  of  cooking  and  serving  mid  day  meal with the overall assistance of the local level implementing agency.

In order to facilitate uninterrupted implementation of the Scheme the Government of India provides funds and foodgrains to States and UTs in advance. Generally Government of India releases funds to States / UTs in two instalments. Both instalments are released in advance provided the States / UTs furnish the requisite information in time. In order to ensure that the programme do not suffer disruption in the beginning of the year, the Government of India releases 25% of the allocated fund in advance without asking for any information from the States  /  UTs.  Foodgrains  allocation  is  also  issued  in  advance  and  States/UTs  have  the flexibility to lift the quarterly allocation in one go. The FCI is held responsible for ensuring continuous  availability  of  adequate  food  grains  in  its  Depots  and  in  Principal  Distribution Centres in the case of North East Region. States / UTs are permitted to lift the foodgrains one month in advance. Every school / cooking agency is to maintain a buffer stock of foodgrains of one month requirement.

## 9. Task of cooking

The  Guidelines  provide  that,  as  far  as  possible,  the  responsibility  of  cooking/supply  of cooked midday meal should be assigned to local women's/mothers' Self-Help Group or local Youth  Club  affiliated  to  the  Nehru  Yuvak  Kendras  or  a  voluntary  organization  or  by personnel engaged directly by the VEC/SMDC/PTA/Gram Panchayat/Municipality. Involvement of Self Help Groups under the scheme is increasing gradually. In urban areas, where  there  is  shortage  of  space  for  construction  of  the  kitchen  shed,  use  of  centralized kitchen for a cluster of schools may be explored. Cooking may be undertaken in a centralized kitchen and cooked hot meal may then be transported under hygienic conditions through a reliable transport system to various schools. There may be one or more such nodal kitchen(s) in an urban area, depending on the number of children and capacity of the service providers.

## 10. Quality of Mid Day Meal

Quality of MDM largely depends on the quality of food grains.  FCI is held responsible for issue  of  food  grains  of  best  available  quality,  which  will  in  any  case  be  at  least  of  Fair Average Quality (FAQ). FCI appoints a Nodal Officer for each State to take care of various problems in supply of food grains under the MDM Programme. The District Collector / CEO of Zila Panchayat ensures that food grains of at least FAQ are lifted after joint inspection by a team  consisting  of  FCI  and  the  nominee  of  the  Collector  and/or  Chief  Executive  Officer, District Panchayat, and confirmation by them that the grain conforms to at least FAQ norms. Quality, safety and hygiene specifications have been prescribed in the Guidelines. It is also provided  that  2-3  adults  members,  of  them  at  least  one  being  teacher,  must  taste  the  food before  it  is  served  to  the  children.  Although  the  guidelines  provide  for  inspection  of  25% schools  every  quarter  by  the  supervisory  officer  but  due  to  shortage  of  officers/staff  and resources, intense and frequent inspection of the programme is not happening in the expected manner. The guidelines also provide for active community participation for the supervision and monitoring of the programme. For a programme of this magnitude, the key to success lies in the active and meaningful involvement of the community.

## 11. Coverage under Mid Day Meal Scheme

At  present  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  covers  children  studying  in  classes  I-VIII  in  all Government schools, Government aided schools, Special Training Centres and Madrasa and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

PAB approved numbers for the States / UTs are only for the purpose of estimating Central Assistance under MDM Scheme. MDM Guidelines envisage that every student attending the school is eligible to be covered under the scheme. 10.38 crore children in 11.74 lakh schools benefited  under  MDMS during 2014-15. PAB has  approved 10.81 crore children  in  11.76 lakh schools to be covered during 2014-15 across the country.

## 12. Role of Teachers

The Mid Day Meal Guidelines envisage that teachers should not be assigned responsibilities that will impede or interfere with teaching learning.  Teachers should, however, be involved in  ensuring that (a) good quality, wholesome food is served to children, and (b) the actual serving and eating is undertaken in a spirit of togetherness, under hygienic conditions, and in an  orderly  manner  so  that  the  entire  process  is  completed  in  30-40  minutes.  It  should however,  be  ensured  that  the  food  prepared  is  tasted  by  2-3  adults  including  at  least  one teacher before it is served to children. Thus, the teacher is to supervise that the mid day meal is served in an orderly manner within specified time (recess period) and to taste the meal on rotational basis before it is served. Except the above supervisory responsibility, he / she has no other role in the preparation of the mid day meal. The teaching learning activities are not affected because the meals are served during the recess period.

## 13. Monitoring Mechanisms

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human  Resource Development has prescribed a comprehensive and elaborate mechanism for monitoring and supervision  of  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme.  The  monitoring  mechanism  includes  the following:

- i) Arrangements  for  local  level  monitoring :  Representatives  of  Gram  Panchayats/ Gram Sabhas, members of VECs, PTAs, SMCs as well as Mothers' Committees are required to monitor the (i) regularity and wholesomeness of the mid day meal served to children, (ii) cleanliness in cooking and serving of the mid day meal, (iii) timeliness in  procurement of good quality ingredients, fuel,  etc, (iv)  implementation  of  varied menu, (v) social and gender equity on a daily basis.
2. ii) Display  of  Information :  In  order  to  ensure  transparency  and  accountability,  all schools  and  centres  where  the  programme  is  being  implemented  are  required  to display the following information at a visible place in the campus for the notice of the general public:
- a) Quantity of food grains received, date of receipt.
- b) Quantity of food grains utilized
- c) Other ingredients purchased, utilized
- d) Number of children given mid day meal.
- e) Daily Menu
- f) Roster of Community Members for supervision and monitoring.
9. iii) Block  level  Committee :    A  broad  based  Steering-cum-Monitoring  Committee  also monitors the implementation of the Mid Day Meal Scheme at the block levels.
10. iv) Inspections by State Government Officers : Officers of the State Government/ UTs belonging to the Departments of Revenue, Rural Development, Education and other related  sectors,  such  as  Women  and  Child Development,  Food, Health etc. are also required to inspect schools and centres where the programme is being implemented. It has been recommended that 25% of elementary schools/ Special Training Centres are visited every quarter.
- v) District  Level  Committee :  Besides  a  Steering-cum-Monitoring  Committee  for monitoring the MDM scheme at district level, the States/UTs have been directed to constitute a District Level Committee under the chairmanship of senior most MP of the Lok Sabha of the district with the following composition :
- a) All Members of Parliament, Members of the State Legislature and members of the Zilla Parishad
- b) The District Magistrate/Collector/Deputy Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad/Urban local body will be the Member-Secy.
- c) District  Officer in-charge of MDM
- d) District Officers in-charge of Drinking Water Mission / Total Sanitation Programme / ICDS Programme/Panchayati Raj / Labour / Handicapped Welfare/Social Welfare / Minority Welfare etc.
- e) Two NGO's working on elementary education for MDM in the area,

This committee monitors the implementation of SSA, RMSA, Saakshar Bharat programme as well as MDM programmes in the district. The committee shall meet in each quarter to review the Schemes.

- vi) Periodic  Returns: The  State  Government/  UT  is  also  required  to  submit  periodic returns  to  the  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy,  GOI  to  provide

information on (i) coverage of children and institutions, (ii)  number of school days (iii) Progress  in utilization of central assistance (iv) availability of  necessary infrastructure in schools, (v) any untoward incident etc.,

- vii) Monitoring by Institutions of Social Science Research : Thirty Eight Institutions of Social  Science  Research,  identified  for  monitoring  the  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan,  are also entrusted with the task of monitoring the Mid Day Meal Scheme.
- viii) Grievance  Redressal :  States  and  Union  Territories  are  required  to  develop  a dedicated mechanism  for  public  grievance redressal,  which  should  be  widely publicized and made easily accessible.
- ix) State level : States and UT Administrations are also required to set up a Steering-cumMonitoring  Committee  at  the  State  level  to  oversee  the  implementation  of  the Scheme. States / UTs have deployed independent institutions for the evaluation of the Scheme.
- x) National level : At Centre level Government of India monitors the Scheme through an Empowered Committee, National Level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (NSMC), Programme Approval Board (PAB) under the Chairpersonship of Secretary(SE&L). Regional and State level review meetings are also held to monitor and iron out State / UT specific issues relating to implementation of the programme. The  General  Council  and  Executive  Council  of  the  National  Mission  for  Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan also review Mid Day Meal Scheme.
- xi) The Review Missions consisting of representatives of Ministry of HRD, representative of State Government, UNICEF  and office of Supreme Court Commissioner  visit  8  to  10  schools  in  2  districts  each  in  8  low  performing  States every year to assess the actual implementation of the Scheme at the ground level as per  the  defined  Terms  of  Reference  (ToR).  The  report  prepared  by  the  Mission  is shared with these States for taking corrective action on the deficiencies reported in the implementation  of  the  scheme  and  sending  action  taken  note  on  the  report.  The Mission  visited  Uttarakhand  during  12-20 th May,  2014  and  submitted  report  to  the State Government and to this Ministry also. The findings of the Mission have been shared with the State with request to take the remedial measures and submit the action taken note. The Joint  Review Mission also visited four States viz. Assam, Maharashtra,  Telangana  and  West  Bengal  during  23-31 st March,  2015  and  reports have  been  shared  with  the  States.  The  8 th JRM  has  visited  Chhattisgarh,  Haryana, Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Karnataka  and  Kerala  from  30 th November,  2015  to  5 th December, 2015.

Many  studies  have  shown  that  MDMS  has  helped  in  preventing  classroom hunger; promoting  school participation and  fostering social equality  and enhancing gender equity thereby facilitating overall healthy growth of children. The Office of the Supreme Court Commissioners undertakes extensive review of various welfare schemes through field visits. They have observed that the MDM is  widely  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  more  successful  entitlement  schemes  of Government of India and has resulted in an increase in enrollment and retention of children in elementary classes.

## 14. Grievance Redressal Mechanism under Mid Day Meal Scheme

States  and  Union  Territories  are  required  to  develop  a  dedicated  mechanism  for  public grievance redressal, which should be widely publicized and made easily accessible. In June, 2010,  guiding  principles  for  setting  up  Grievance  Redressal  Mechanisms  (GRMs)  for registering  complaints  through  toll  free  number/dedicated  telephone  number  or  through letters  were  issued  to  all  States/UTs.      States/UTs  have  established  GRMs  and  they  are redressing grievances on these guiding principles. The details of the grievance redressal cells for all the states are available on the MHRD web site: www.mdm.nic.in.

## 15. Exclusive website for MDM Scheme

All information on the scheme including the funds released, food grains sanctioned, Kitchen cum stores sanctioned, cook-cum-helpers engaged as well as the reports of the MIs; JRMS and social audit are made available on the website of MHRD www.mdm.nic.in.

## 16. Evaluation studies conducted by Independent agencies

Independent  evaluation  studies  on  the  Mid-Day  Meal  Scheme  conducted  by  different agencies  in  various  parts  of  the  country  have  affirmed  the  positive  educational,  nutritional and social impact of the scheme. Some of the findings of these studies are listed below:

- (a) 'Cooked Mid-Day meal programme in West Bengal - A study of Birbhum district' by Professor Amartya Sen's Pratichi Research Team (2005) shows that Mid Day Meal has made positive intervention in universalisation of primary education by increasing enrollment and attendance. The increase has been more marked with respect to girls and children belonging to SC/ST categories. The study also points out that Mid Day Meal scheme has contributed to reduction in teacher absenteeism and narrowing of social distances.
- (b) 'Situation  Analysis  of  Mid-Day  Meal  Programme  in  Rajasthan'  by  University  of Rajasthan  and  UNICEF  (2005)  states  that  the  introduction  of  menu  based  mid  day meal has positively impacted enrollment and attendance of children. It has contributed to  social  equity,  as  children  sit  together  and  share  a  common  meal  irrespective  of caste  and  class.  It  has  further  contributed  to  gender  equity  in  that  it  has  provided employment to women.
- (c) 'Report on Akshara Dasoha scheme of Karnataka" by Dr. Rama Naik University of Dharwad (2005) has reported sharp rise in enrollment, particularly in rural areas. The programme  has  had  an  impact  on  teacher  absenteeism:  64%  schools  stated  that teacher absenteeism has been reduced.
- (d) National Council of Educational Research & Training's Report (2005) on  Learning Achievement  of  Students  at  the  End  of  Class-V  has  shown  that  children  covered under mid day meal have higher achievement level than those who were not covered under it.
- (e) 'An Empirical Study of the Mid Day Meal Programme in Khudra district of Orissa' by Anima Rani Si and Naresh Kumar Sharma, Economic and Political Weekly, June (2008) has  reported  that MDM  had positive  impact  on  enrolment,  attendance  and performance of the students. Socialization was better and new employment opportunities were generated for underprivileged sections.
- (f) 'Social audit on Mid Day Meal Scheme in Andhra Pradesh' by Dipa Sinha published in Economic &Political Weekly, November(2008) has reported that the scheme had positive effects on increasing enrolment, averting class room   hunger and reducing the  social  discrimination.  Regularity  in  serving  the  cooked  mid  day  meal  in  the schools has also been observed. MDM had generated livelihood opportunities for poor women in rural areas.
- (g) 'Mid Day Meal Scheme in Madhya Pradesh - A study - 2007' by National Institute of  Public  Cooperation  &  Child  Development,  Indore  has  reported  that  MDM  has shown marked improvement in enrollment pattern of children in primary school. Mid Day Meal Scheme undoubtedly resulted in increased school attendance and retention of  children  in  school  for  a  longer  period.  The  Scheme  has  played  a  crucial  role  in reducing drop out, especially among girls. Parents viewed that the mid day meal had reduced the burden of providing one time meal to their children and considered it as a great  support  to  their  families.  Teachers  opined  that  mid  day  meal  aided  in  active

learning  of  children,  which  indirectly  improved  their  academic  performance.  The Scheme has played a significant role in bringing social equity.

## (h) Planning Commission.

-  The Cooked Mid Day Meal Program has been successful in addressing classroom hunger in sample schools.
-  Cooked Mid Day Meal is reported to have created a platform for children of all social  and  economic  backgrounds  to  take  meals  together,  thereby  facilitating achieving the objective of social equity.
-  It has also been observed that the programme has resulted in the diversion of the attention  of  teachers  and  students  on  activities  related  to  it,  rather  than  towards teaching and learning activities, which results in loss of studies.
-  In general, visible shortage of basic infrastructural facilities and manpower (that are crucial for the success of the Cooked Mid Day Meal programme) were noted.
-  Most of the states, it was observed, did not follow the guidelines of Government of India to deliver foodgrains at the school point by PDS dealer, thereby resulting in the leakage of foodgrain. There have been instances where due to long supply chain, foodgrain supplied got adulterated and pilfered.
-  While Cooked Mid-Day Meal Scheme seems to have contributed to an increase in the  attendance  in  schools  across  the  country,  it  does  not  seem  to  have  any significant impact on fresh enrolments in sample schools.

## (i) Office of Supreme Court Commissioner

The  Office  of  Supreme  Court  Commissioners  for  MDMS  reviewed social  security schemes  in  9  States  and  have  observed  that  the  mid  day  meal  scheme  is  the  most widely accepted scheme in the country and has positive impact on enhancement of educational indicators. They observed,

'The survey confirmed the belief that the mid day meal scheme is one of the better run schemes  in  most  parts  of  the  country  and  is  also  very  popular  among  parents  and children.''

## (j) Findings  of  the  report  of  the  Society  for  Social  Audit,  Accountability  and Transparency in Andhra Pradesh in March, 2013.

The findings related to food grains, cook-cum-helpers, cooking cost and meals served and availability of infrastructure are as under:

## A. Food grain (Rice) related issues:

- a) School gets inadequate quantity of rice- 3-4 Kgs less than required
- b) Poor  quality  rice  is  served  in  the  meals-  Mostly  broken  rice  with  stones  & worms
- c) Many children complained of stomach ache because of this rice.
- d) There is a mismatch between the closing balance and opening balance in rice stock.
- e) Manipulations  done  in  the  stock  registers-More  Rice  spent  is  shown  as compared to the no. of Meals consumed. In the stock register it is entered less than the availability of rice as opening balance.
- f) Left over rice bags are missing from the school stockroom.
- g) At the school level HMs are responsible for rice lifting and distribution

## B. Honorarium to Cook Cum Helpers

- a) Singareni Mandal - In 20 schools there are 41 CCHs working as per records. Rs. 41,000  paid as honorarium as per record. Out of which only 35 CCHs are
2. actually working in the school and 6 CCHs in Khammam and 4 in Chittoor are benami.
- b) Sub-contracting of CCH was found in Chittoor Mandal. So CCH working in the school received only half the amount from the person who contracted.
- c) Delay in payment to CCH.
- d) In  Chittoor  CCHs  complained  that  they  have  not  received  cooking  cost amount  for  9-10th  std.  since  January  2013  (which  is  100%  state  fund). Therefore they are adjusting from the PS & UPS budget allotment of MDM.

## C. Cooking cost & consumption of meals.

- a) Excess meals were recorded more than food consumed.
- b) In Tirupati rural, Chittoor district-ISKCON is serving Meals
3. o Poor quality rice since 4-5 months.
4. o Number  of  children  availing  MDM  is  less  than  the  enrolment.  But  the payment to NGO is being done on the basis of enrolment.
5. o Food  quantity  sent to the schools  in cans  is 50%  lesser  than  the requirement
6. o NGO is not taking every day attendance from the HMs before cooking.
- c) CCHs  are  finding  it  difficult  to  provide  eggs  twice  a  week.  So  they  are providing eggs once a week and banana in place of eggs alternatively.

## D. Facilities at the school

- a) In many schools there is no drinking water facility.
- b) In 14 schools in Singareni Mandal and 2 in Chittoor mandala non- functional toilet rooms. Toilet rooms are very unhygienic.

## E. Suggestions/Recommendations by SSAAT

- a) Constituting a Social Audit team- A mandal team comprises of one Resource person/Gram  Panchayat,  two  SMC  members  (parents)  /school  and  2  trained youths/ Gram Panchayat.
- b) Involving  SMCs-  Community  involvement  in  the  form  of  Social  Auditor School Management Committee member (SASMC member-especially parents)  will  be  an  unique  initiative-  SASMC  member-trained  youth  is division  of  labour-with  each  partner  putting  in  one's  best  strength  areatowards a mutual goal
- c) Training- Training of SMCs and local youths should be a continuous process.
- d) Public Hearing- Social audit adopts investigative approach at the outer level, the actual beauty of the SA lies in the beneficiaries/community participating in the Public Hearing. Community must be provided a platform to be heard by the Officials. Based on the fact finding report, evidences and statements given by  the  beneficiaries,  action  can  be  initiated  on  the  spot  by  the  presiding Officer.
- e) Availability  of  all  records  to  auditors  and  Social  Audit  process  should  be independent/

## (k) PAISA district surveys on Mid Day Meal Scheme, June, 2012

The  Planning,  Allocation  &  Expenditure  Institutions  Studies  in  Accountability (PAISA) conducted survey in 2 districts of Uttar Pradesh (Jaunpur and Hardoi) and Bihar  (Purnia  and  Nalanda)  each  and  submitted  report  to  the  Central  Government. The report has been shared with the State Government for taking corrective measures. The major findings of the report are as under:

-  60% of the enrolled children receive MDM per day.
-  Significant gap in Bihar between number of working days on which meals should be served and the number of days on which meals were actually served.
-  The stock of foodgrains available in school was far lower than mandated by MDM norms. The gap was larger in Bihar than in Uttar Pradesh.
-  Schools  in  Uttar  Pradesh  utilized  far  fewer  foodgrains  than  specified  by  the norms.
-  Schools received the bulk of their annual receipts by December.
-  MDM is not served regularly in schools. Schools in Bihar reported more than a 40 days gap between the number of working days and the number of days on which the MDM was served.
-  Annual foodgrains stocks in schools were far lower than needed to serve MDM in accordance with the norms.

## 17. Achievements during the period 2007-08 to 2015-16

|                                             |   2007-08 |   2008-09 |   2009-10 |   2010-11 |   2011-12 | 2012-13   |   2013-14 |   2014-15 | 2015-16   |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Average number of Children covered (in Cr.) |      9.54 |     11.19 |     11.04 |     10.46 |     10.54 | 10.68.    |     10.79 |     10.38 | 10.56 #   |
| Foodgrains allocated (in lakh MTs)          |     24.79 |     29.3  |     29.45 |     29.4  |     29.2  | 29.26     |     29.77 |     29.33 | 27.74     |
| Budget allocation (in Cr.)                  |   7324    |   8000    |   8000    |   9440    |  10380    | 11937     |  13215    |  13215    | 9236.40   |
| Total Release (in Cr.)                      |   5835    |   6540    |   6938    |   9128    |   9902    | 10868     |  10927    |  10527    | 8749.91$  |
| Total Exp. (in Cr.)                         |   3483.6  |   4999.55 |   5621.67 |   7786.56 |   9235.82 | 10196.98  |  10873.8  |   8209.16 | --        |
| %Exp. against release                       |     60    |     76    |     81    |     85    |     93    | 94        |     99.5  |     78    | 94.7      |

- # Expected coverage during 2015-16
- $ Releases as on date

## 18. Performance of the Scheme over the years in major States

The States that have shown an improvement in coverage are as under:

<!-- image -->

The  ASER  data  also  broadly  confirms  the  improvement  in  these  States.  However,  in  the following States while the QPR reports show good coverage, the ASER data shows that the % of schools in which MDM was being served on the day of the visit is quite low.

<!-- image -->

## 19. No. of children covered by NGOs

The State-wise number of children covered by NGOs is as under:

| S. No.   | State          |   Districts |   No. ofNGO working |   No. of Children covered |
|----------|----------------|-------------|---------------------|---------------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh |           9 |                   3 |                    391975 |
| 2        | Assam          |           2 |                   1 |                     51894 |
| 3        | Bihar          |          12 |                   7 |                    799223 |
| 4        | Chhattisgarh   |           5 |                   6 |                    124022 |
| 5        | Gujarat        |           6 |                   3 |                    464813 |
| 6        | Harayana       |           4 |                   1 |                    340188 |
| 7        | Jharkhand      |           2 |                   1 |                     56487 |
| 8        | Karnataka      |          19 |                  95 |                    964482 |
| 9        | Madhya Pradesh |          14 |                  44 |                    355568 |
| 10       | Maharashtra    |           4 |                   2 |                    247592 |
| 11       | Odisha         |           6 |                   3 |                    179772 |
| 12       | Punjab         |           6 |                   2 |                    126655 |
| 13       | Rajasthan      |           4 |                   4 |                    211855 |
| 14       | Uttar Pradesh  |          33 |                 384 |                   1109397 |
| 15       | West Bengal    |           5 |                 111 |                     71047 |
| 16       | Delhi          |           9 |                  41 |                   1559497 |
|          | Total          |         140 |                 695 |                   7054467 |

Source: AWP&B, 2014-15

## 20. Improvements in the Scheme

- a) In the last few years the Mid Day Meal programme witnessed several improvements in the scheme, as indicated below:
- i) The cooking cost has been revised by 7.5% w.e.f. 1.7.2014
1. The total outlay for the 12 th Five year Plan is Rs. 90155.00 crore. The outlay for the 11 th Plan was Rs. 48,000 crore and Rs. 38,690 crore expended.
2. An amount of Rs.9236.40 crore has been allocated under Budget Estimate 2015-16 of this Department for implementation of MDM Scheme.
3. Allocation of food grains to States/UTs under MDM Scheme for whole year of 2015-16 has been made.

## b) New initiatives

The web enabled MIS portal for MDM has been launched and States / UTs have fed annual data for about 11.35 lakh schools and monthly data 10.25 lakh  schools  on  an  average  during  2014-15.  The  portal  has  scope  to integrate  with  IVRS  to  monitor  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  on  real  time basis through community participation.

- ii) Social Audit was conducted on pilot basis in two districts viz. Chittoor and Khammam of Andhra Pradesh during 2012-13. The findings have been very useful for enhancing the effectiveness of the Scheme. It has been decided to extend social audit study in other 9 States during the current year.
- iii) Preparation  of  hygienic  and  wholesome  meal  depends  on  the  knowledge and  skills  of  Cook-cum-Helpers.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  imparting training  to  the  Cook-cum-Helpers  under  MDM  through  the  Institutes  of Hotel Management (IHMs) and the Food Craft Institutes (FCIs).
- iv) The Mid Day Meal Scheme requires convergence with other schemes for effective  implementation.  The  convergence  with  Department  of  Drinking Water  &  Sanitation,  Rural  Development,  Health  &  Family  Welfare, MPLAD Scheme,  etc.  is  very  helpful  in  effective  implementation  of  the scheme and requires regular coordination with these Ministries/Departments.  The  Hon'ble  Minister  of  HRD  has  written  to  the Members of Parliament for reviewing the Scheme on quarterly basis in their district and also contributes funds from MPLAD scheme for construction of dining halls in the schools.

## c) Issue of revised guidelines to ensure quality, safety and hygiene under MDMS

The  Central  Government  issued  detailed  guidelines  to  ensure  quality,  safety  and hygiene under Mid Day Meal Scheme vide letter dated 22 nd July, 2013. The States / UTs have been requested to take immediate action on following points:

- a) Setting up of an effective Management Structure for MDM at various levels.
- b) Mandatory tasting of the meal by at least one teacher before it is served to the children
- c) Safe storage and supply of ingredients to schools
- d) Capacity building of stakeholders
- e) Procurement of pulses  and  ingredients  of  branded  and  Ag-mark  quality  and supply to schools on the lines of Maharashtra.
- f) Awareness about entitlements under Mid Day Meal Scheme.
- g) Convening of District Level Committee  meeting under the Chairmanship of senior most Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha from the district.
- h) Convening of regular review meeting at District level under the chairpersonship of DC/ Deputy Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Zila Parishad.
- i) Social Audit of the Scheme on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh.
- j) Testing of food samples by CSIR/NABL accredited lab.
- k) Prompt  action  on  the  reports  of  the  Monitoring  Institutes,  Joint  Review Mission etc.
- l) Contingency Medical Plans.
- m) Guidelines  on  safety,  hygiene  in  school  based  kitchens  issued  on  13 th February, 2015.

## 21. Best Practices in MDMS

| Name of State                                                 | Details                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Karnataka                                                     | All schools have gas based cooking.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Bihar, Jharkhand                                              | Bal Sansad (Child Cabinet) is actively involved in the orderly distribution of mid- day meal.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Uttarakhand                                                   | Mothers are appointed as Bhojan Mata and Sahayika in primary schools.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab and NER States | Growing kitchen gardens in the school premises and serving the vegetables in the MDM.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Tripura                                                       | Construction of dining halls for eating MDMin the schools.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| West Bengal                                                   | Fish Pond in school premises.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Jharkhand                                                     | School children's mothers association called Saraswati Vahini. Two mothers of these associations are nominated as Sanyojika, who are involved actively in cooking and effective delivery of the food to the children.                                                                                                    |
| Gujarat                                                       | Initiated the concept of public participation through 'Tithi Bhojan'. The villagers sponsor the sweets and food for children on various occasions and provide utensils for MDMScheme.                                                                                                                                    |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                | Introduced the Green Channel Scheme under which the Finance Department issues Budget Release Order (BRO) to the administrative department which in gives periodical distribution statement for the entire year to the implementing agencies so that the scheme is implemented without any hindrance throughout the year. |
| Odisha                                                        | Emergency Medical Plan and organization of MDMMela,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Chhattisgarh                                                  | 100% Self-Help Group in rural areas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |

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