Lok Sabha Question No. 36 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Nutritional Value of Food Under MDM Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJESH VERMA, BHAGWANTH KHUBA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO.36**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015**

**Nutritional Value of Food Under MDM Scheme**

**†*36. 	SHRI RAJESH VERMA:**

**SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:**

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

(a) 	the guidelines laid down by the Government prescribing norms for nutritional content/value of food being served under the Mid Day Meal Scheme, (MDM) food item-wise;

(b) 	whether the mid-day meal samples taken during the last three years, failed the nutritional value test;

(c) 	if so, the details thereof indicating the number of food samples lifted and the number out of which were found to have less nutritional value than the prescribed norms, year/State/UT-wise;

(d) 	the action taken by the Government against those found guilty; and

(e) 	the measures being taken by the Government to ensure serving of quality food under MDM scheme?

**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. 36 for 22.07.2015 raised by SHRI RAJESH VERMA and SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA regarding Nutritional Value of Food Under MDM Scheme.**

(a)		The MDM guidelines have prescribed the following norms for nutritional content:

| **S.No.**   | **Items**                | **Quantity per day / child**   |                   |
|-------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------|
|             |                          | **Primary**                    | **Upper Primary** |
| 1           | Foodgrain (Rice / Wheat) | 100 gm                         | 150 gm            |
| 2           | Pulses                   | 20 gm                          | 30 gm             |
| 3           | Vegetables (leafy also)  | 50 gm                          | 75 gm             |
| 4           | Oil & Fat                | 5 gm                           | 7.5 gm            |
| 5           | Salt & Condiments        | As per need                    | As per need       |

The cooking cost, which includes the cost of all ingredients except foodgrains for primary stage is Rs. 3.59 per child per day and Rs. 5.38 per child per day for upper primary stage. The cooking cost is shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 90:10 for North East Region States and 75:25 for other States.

(b) to (d)	The Government of NCT Delhi has reported that between 2010 to 2014, testing of food samples has revealed that 89% of the samples did not meet the nutritional and calorific values. The year-wise details of number of samples tested on quality parameters in Delhi are given at ***Annexure-I*** .

The Government of Delhi has taken action in the form of proportionate deduction from the payment due to service providers towards cooking costs, where samples did not meet the norms.  The Government of NCT Delhi has also terminated contracts in case of four service providers on account of failing on microbiological parameters on sample testing.

(e)	The Central Government has taken following steps to ensure quality food under Mid Day Meal Scheme:

1. Training for cook-cum-helpers on safety, quality and hygiene aspects.
2. States instructed to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of mid day meals.
3. Tasting of meals by 2-3 adults members including at least one teacher before serving to children.
4. System of testing of food samples by accredited laboratories.
5. Construction of kitchen-cum-stores for safe storage and preparation of meals in a hygienic environment.
6. Engagement of cook-cum-helpers.
7. Upward revision of cooking cost by 7.5% every year from 2010.
8. Updated guidelines on food safety and hygiene issued on 13.02.2015

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

***Annexure-I***

**Annexure referred to in reply part (b) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.36 for 22.07.2015 by SHRI RAJESH VERMA and SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA regarding Nutritional Value of Food Under MDM Scheme.**

**Year-wise number of samples tested on quality parameters in Delhi**

| **Year**   | **Samples**   | **Meet the parameters**   | **Didn’t meet the parameters**   | **% samples meet parameter**   |
|------------|---------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2010       | 352           | 19                        | 333                              | 5%                             |
| 2011       | 565           | 24                        | 541                              | 4%                             |
| 2012       | 559           | 59                        | 500                              | 11%                            |
| 2013       | 626           | 125                       | 501                              | 20%                            |
| 2014       | 142           | 19                        | 123                              | 13%                            |
| **Total**  | **2244**      | **246**                   | **1998**                         | **11%**                        |

भारत सरकार

मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्रालय

स्कूल शिक्षा तथा साक्षरता विभाग

**लोक सभा**

तारांकित प्रश्‍न संख्या: ***** 36

उत्तर देने की तारीख : 22 जुलाई, 2015

31 आषाढ़, 1937 (शक)

**मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत भोजन के पोषक तत्व**

* **36.   श्री राजेश वर्माः**

**श्री भगवंत खुबाः**

**क्या मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्री यह बताने की कृपा करेंगे किः**

(क) सरकार द्वारा मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत परोसे जा रहे भोजन के पोषक तत्वों/मात्रा के लिए मानक विहित करने हेतु खाद्य पदार्थ-वार क्या दिशानिर्देश बनाए गए हैं;

(ख) क्या गत तीन वर्षों के दौरान मध्याह्न भोजन के लिये गए नमूने पोषक तत्व परीक्षण में खरे नहीं उतरे हैं;

(ग) यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या और वर्ष-वार/राज्य/संघ राज्यक्षेत्र-वार लिए गए खाद्य नमूनों की संख्या और उनमें से कितने नमूनों में निर्धारित मानकों से कम मात्रा में पोषक तत्व पाए गए;

(घ) दोषियों के विरुद्ध सरकार द्वारा क्या कार्रवाई की गई; और

(ङ) मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत गुणवत्तायुक्त भोजन परोसे जाना सुनिश्चित करने

के लिए सरकार द्वारा क्या उपाय किए जा रहे हैं?

**उत्तर**

**मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्री**

**(श्रीमती स्‍मृति ज़ूबिन इरानी)**

**(क) से (ड.):** एक विवरण सभा-पटल पर रख दिया गया है।

******

**“मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत भोजन के पोषक तत्व” के संबंध में श्री राजेश वर्मा और श्री भगवंत खुबा द्वारा दिनांक 22.07.2015 को लोक सभा में पूछे जाने वाले तारांकित प्रश्न संख्या 36 के भाग (क) से (ड.) के उत्तर में उल्लिखित विवरण।**

(क):	मध्याह्न भोजन योजना दिशा-निर्देशों में पौष्टिक सामग्री हेतु निम्नलिखित मानदंड निर्धारित किए गए हैं:

| **क्र.सं.**   | **मद**                            | **प्रतिदिन/प्रति बच्चा मात्रा**   |                |
|---------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------|
|               |                                   | प्राथमिक                          | उच्‍च प्राथमिक |
| 1.            | खाद्यान्‍न  (अर्थात् चावल, गेहूं) | 100 ग्राम                         | 150 ग्राम      |
| 2.            | दाल                               | 20 ग्राम                          | 30 ग्राम       |
| 3.            | सब्जि़यां (पत्‍तेदार)             | 50 ग्राम                          | 75 ग्राम       |
| 4.            | तेल एवं वसा                       | 5 ग्राम                           | 7.5 ग्राम      |
| 5.            | नमक एवं मसाले                     | आवश्‍यकतानुसार                    | आवश्‍यकतानुसार |

खाना बनाने की लागत में, प्राथमिक चरण हेतु खाद्यानों के अतिरिक्त सभी सामग्रियों की लागत प्रति बच्चा प्रतिदिन 3.59 रूपये है और यही लागत उच्च प्राथमिक चरण के लिए प्रति बच्चा प्रतिदिन 5.38 रूपये है। केन्द्र और राज्यों के बीच खाना बनाने की लागत पूर्वोत्तर क्षेत्र के राज्यों के लिए 90:10  और अन्य राज्यों के लिए 75:25 के अनुपात में है।

(ख) से (घ):	राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र दिल्ली सरकार ने सूचित किया है कि 2010 से 2014 के बीच खाने के नमूनों के परीक्षण से यह पता चला है कि 89% नमूने पोषक और कैलोरी मानों को पूरा नहीं कर पाए। दिल्ली में गुणवत्ता पैरामीटरों पर परीक्षण किए गए नमूनों की संख्या का वर्ष-वार ब्यौरा ***संलग्नक-I*** में दिया गया है।

दिल्ली सरकार ने खाने की लागत के लिए उन सेवा प्रदाताओं के देय भुगतान से आनुपातिक कटौती के रूप में कार्यवाही की है जहां नमूने मानकों को पूरा नहीं कर पाए। राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र दिल्ली सरकार ने नमूना परीक्षण पर जीवाणुतत्व संबंधी पैरामीटरों के पूरे न होने पर 4 सेवा प्रदाताओं के मामले में उनके ठेके रद्द भी कर दिए हैं।

(ड.):	मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत गुणवत्तायुक्त भोजन को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा निम्नलिखित कदम उठाए गए हैं:

i)	सुरक्षा, गुणवत्ता और स्वच्छता के संबंध में रसोईया-सह-सहायकों हेतु प्रशिक्षण।

ii)	राज्यों को मध्याह्न भोजन को बनाने के लिए एगमार्क गुणवत्ता और ब्रान्डेड मदों को खरीदने का निर्देश दिया गया।

iii)	बच्चों को परोसे जाने से पूर्व भोजन कम से कम एक शिक्षक सहित 2-3 व्यस्क सदस्यों द्वारा चखना।

iv)	प्रत्यायित प्रयोगशालाओं द्वारा खाने के नमूनों की परीक्षण प्रणाली।

v)	सुरक्षित भण्डारण के लिए रसोइ-सह-स्टोर का निर्माण और स्वच्छ वातावरण में भोजन को तैयार करना।

vi)	रसोइया–सह-सहायक की नियुक्ति।

vii)	2010 से प्रत्येक वर्ष खाना पकाने की लागत में 7.5% ऊर्ध्व संशोधन।

viii)	भोजन सुरक्षा और स्वच्छता के संबंध में 13.02.2015 को जारी अद्यतन दिशानिर्देश।

*****

***संलग्नक-I***

**“मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत भोजन के पोषक तत्व” के संबंध में श्री राजेश वर्मा और श्री भगवंत खुबा द्वारा दिनांक 22.07.2015 को लोक सभा में पूछे जाने वाले तारांकित प्रश्न संख्या 36 के भाग (ख) से (घ) के उत्तर में उल्लिखित संलग्नक।**

**दिल्ली में गुणवत्ता पैरामीटरों पर जांच किए गए नमूनों की वर्ष-वार संख्या**

| **वर्ष**   | **नमूने**   | **पैरामीटरों पर खरे उतरे**   | **पैरामीटरों पर खरे नहीं उतरे**   | **% नमूने पैरामीटरों पर खरे उतरे**   |
|------------|-------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 2010       | 352         | 19                           | 333                               | 5%                                   |
| 2011       | 565         | 24                           | 541                               | 4%                                   |
| 2012       | 559         | 59                           | 500                               | 11%                                  |
| 2013       | 626         | 125                          | 501                               | 20%                                  |
| 2014       | 142         | 19                           | 123                               | 13%                                  |
| **कुल**    | **2244**    | **246**                      | **1998**                          | **11%**                              |

**16वां स्थान**

**‘‘मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत भोजन के पोषक तत्व’’ के संबंध में माननीय संसद सदस्‍य श्री राजेश वर्मा तथा श्री भगवंत खुबा द्वारा दिनांक 22.07.2015 को पूछे जाने वाले लोक सभा तारांकित प्रश्‍न संख्‍या 36 के उत्‍तर हेतु कार्यकारी सारांश।**

**कार्यकारी सारांश**

**1. प्रश्‍न का मुख्‍य विषय**

प्रश्‍न का मुख्‍य विषय सरकार द्वारा निर्धारित उन दिशानिर्देशों के संबंध में है जिनमें मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के अंतर्गत परोसे जाने वाले भोजन के पोषक तत्‍व/मान के मानक निर्धारित किए गए हैं और यह विषय विगत तीन वर्षों के दौरान पोषक मान हेतु परीक्षण किए गए मध्‍याह्न भोजन के नमूनों के विवरण के साथ-साथ सरकार द्वारा मध्‍याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत पोषक भोजन का परोसा जाना सुनिश्चित करने के संबंध में की गई कार्रवाई से भी संबंधित है।

2. **प्रश्‍न का उत्‍तर**

(क):	दिशा-निर्देशों में पौष्टिक सामग्री हेतु निम्नलिखित मानदंड निर्धारित किए गए हैं:

| **क्र.सं.**   | **मद**                            | **प्रतिदिन/प्रति बच्चा मात्रा**   |                |
|---------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------|
|               |                                   | प्राथमिक                          | उच्‍च प्राथमिक |
| 1.            | खाद्यान्‍न  (अर्थात् चावल, गेहूं) | 100 ग्राम                         | 150 ग्राम      |
| 2.            | दाल                               | 20 ग्राम                          | 30 ग्राम       |
| 3.            | सब्जि़यां (पत्‍तेदार)             | 50 ग्राम                          | 75 ग्राम       |
| 4.            | तेल एवं वसा                       | 5 ग्राम                           | 7.5 ग्राम      |
| 5.            | नमक एवं मसाले                     | आवश्‍यकतानुसार                    | आवश्‍यकतानुसार |

खाना बनाने की लागत में, प्राथमिक चरण हेतु खाद्यानों के अतिरिक्त सभी सामग्रियों की लागत प्रति बच्चा प्रतिदिन 3.59 रूपये है और यही लागत उच्च प्राथमिक चरण के लिए प्रति बच्चा प्रतिदिन 5.38 रूपये है। केन्द्र और राज्यों के बीच खाना बनाने की लागत पूर्वोत्तर क्षेत्र के राज्यों के लिए 90:10  और अन्य राज्यों के लिए 75:25 के अनुपात में है।

(ख) से (घ):	राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र दिल्ली सरकार ने सूचित किया है कि 2010 से 2014 के बीच खाने के नमूनों के परीक्षण से यह पता चला है कि 89% नमूने पोषक और कैलोरी मानों को पूरा नहीं कर पाए।

दिल्ली सरकार ने खाने की लागत के लिए उन सेवा प्रदाताओं के देय भुगतान से आनुपातिक कटौती के रूप में कार्यवाही की है जहां नमूने मानकों को पूरा नहीं कर पाए। राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र दिल्ली सरकार ने नमूना परीक्षण पर जीवाणुतत्व संबंधी पैरामीटरों के पूरे न होने पर 4 सेवा प्रदाताओं के मामले में उनके ठेके रद्द भी कर दिए हैं।

(ड.):	मध्याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत गुणवत्तायुक्त भोजन को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा निम्नलिखित कदम उठाए गए हैं:

i)	सुरक्षा, गुणवत्ता और स्वच्छता के संबंध में रसोईया-सह-सहायकों हेतु प्रशिक्षण।

ii)	राज्यों को मध्याह्न भोजन को बनाने के लिए एगमार्क गुणवत्ता और ब्रान्डेड मदों को खरीदने का निर्देश दिया गया।

iii)	बच्चों को परोसे जाने से पूर्व भोजन कम से कम एक शिक्षक सहित 2-3 व्यस्क सदस्यों द्वारा चखना।

iv)	प्रत्यायित प्रयोगशालाओं द्वारा खाने के नमूनों की परीक्षण प्रणाली।

v)	सुरक्षित भण्डारण के लिए रसोइ-सह-स्टोर का निर्माण और स्वच्छ वातावरण में भोजन को तैयार करना।

vi)	रसोइया–सह-सहायक की नियुक्ति।

vii)	2010 से प्रत्येक वर्ष खाना पकाने की लागत में 7.5% ऊर्ध्व संशोधन।

viii)	भोजन सुरक्षा और स्वच्छता के संबंध में 13.02.2015 को जारी अद्यतन दिशानिर्देश।

3.	भारत सरकार ने दिनांक 22 जुलाई, 2013 को जारी दिशानिर्देश के जरिए प्रत्‍यायित प्रयोगशाला द्वारा खाद्य के परीक्षण हेतु राज्‍य/संघ राज्‍यक्षेत्रों को अनुदेश जारी किए‍ हैं और दिनांक 13 फरवरी, 2015 को दिशानिर्देशों पर पुन: बल दिया है। इसकी 1-2 जून, 2015 को शिलांग में आयोजित राज्‍यों के साथ राष्‍ट्रीय परामर्श में पुन: समीक्षा भी की गई थी। पीएबी-एमडीएम ने फरवरी-मई, 2915 के दौरान आयोजित अपनी बैठक में राज्‍यों को सलाह भी दी है कि वे खाद्य नमूनों के परीक्षण हेतु प्रत्‍यायित प्रयोगशालाओं को लगाएं। वर्तमान में तीन राज्‍य अर्थात दिल्‍ली, गुजरात और पंजाब ने प्रत्‍यायित प्रयोगशालाओं की सहायता से खाद्य नमूनों के परीक्षण शुरू किए हैं। कर्नाटक, छत्‍तीसगढ़, ओडिशा सरकारों ने खाद्य नमूनों के परीक्षण हेतु प्रत्‍यायित प्रयोगशालाओं को लगाने का आश्‍वासन दिया है।

**4. 	समय-समय पर जारी दिशानिर्देश**

**4.1	राज्‍यों/संघ राज्‍य क्षेत्रों को समय-समय पर जारी किए गए अनुदेशों का सार**

|   **क्रम सं.** | **तारीख**         | **विषय**                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|              1 | 27 सितम्‍बर, 2007 | एमडीएम (मध्‍याह्न भोजन) कार्यक्रम का शैक्षणिक दृष्टि से पिछड़े ब्‍लॉकों के उच्‍च प्राथमिक स्‍कूलों तक विस्‍तार                                                                                                        |
|              2 | 21 अप्रैल, 2008   | पात्र मदरसों/मक्‍तबों तक एमडीएम कार्यक्रम का विस्‍तार                                                                                                                                                                 |
|              3 | 24 नवम्‍बर, 2009  | खाद्य मानकों, भोजन पकाने की लागत, रसोइया-सह-सहायक के मानदेय का संशोधन                                                                                                                                                 |
|              4 | 24 नवम्‍बर, 2009  | 11 विशेष श्रेणी वाले राज्‍यों को परिवहन सहायता में संशोधन                                                                                                                                                             |
|              5 | 31 दिसम्‍बर, 2009 | रसोई-सह-भण्‍डार गृह के निर्माण लागत हेतु संशोधित मानक                                                                                                                                                                 |
|              7 | 10 फरवरी, 2010    | भारतीय खाद्य निगम को अनाज के भुगतान हेतु, विकेन्‍द्रीकृत भुगतान संबंधी दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                                                   |
|              8 | 21 जून, 2010      | प्रबंधन, निगरानी और मूल्‍यांकन घटक (एमएमई) के लिए संशोधित दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                                                                |
|              9 | 29 जुलाई, 2010    | मध्‍याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत रसोइया-सह-सहायक की नियुक्ति संबंधी पत्र                                                                                                                                                   |
|             10 | 30 अगस्‍त, 2010   | राज्‍य स्‍तर की स्‍थायी-सह-निगरानी समिति (एसएसएमसी)                                                                                                                                                                   |
|             11 | 8 सितम्‍बर, 2010  | स्‍वैच्छिक संगठनों/गैर-सरकारी संगठनों को लगाने के बारे में दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                                                               |
|             12 | 27 अक्‍तूबर, 2011 | राष्‍ट्रीय बाल श्रम परियोजना (एनसीएलपी) के बच्‍चों को मध्‍याह्न भोजन प्रदान करने संबंधी दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                                  |
|             13 | 1 जुलाई, 2012     | मध्‍याह्न भोजन योजना के लिए संपुष्‍ट नमक का प्रयोग                                                                                                                                                                    |
|             14 | 22 जुलाई, 2013    | मध्‍याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत सुरक्षा और स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य सुनिश्चित करने संबंधी दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                                                |
|             16 | 6 जून, 2014       | वर्ष 2014-15 से स्‍कूलों में मध्‍याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत भोजन पकाने की लागत के मानकों में संशोधन।                                                                                                                     |
|             17 | 5 जुलाई, 2014     | मध्‍याह्न भोजन योजना के तहत ईजीएस/एआईई केन्‍द्रों, एनसीएलपी स्‍कूलों का विशेष प्रशिक्षण केन्‍द्रों (एसटी) के रूप में संशोधित नामावली।                                                                                 |
|             18 | 16 जुलाई, 2014    | मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्री का जिले के वरिष्‍ठतम संसद सदस्‍य (लोकसभा) की अध्‍यक्षता वाली स्‍थाई जिला समिति को स्‍कूलों में भोजनशाला के निर्माण के लिए निगरानी-तंत्र मजबूत करने और एमपीएलएडीएस का उपयोग करने संबंधी पत्र। |
|             19 | 22 अगस्‍त, 2014   | स्‍कूल जाने वाले बच्‍चों के स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य की निगरानी हेतु शिक्षा विभाग और राज्‍यों/संघ राज्‍य क्षेत्रों के स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य विभाग के मध्‍य ताल-मेल।                                                                        |
|             20 | 25 सितम्‍बर, 2014 | राज्‍यों/संघ राज्‍य क्षेत्रों द्वारा बिना आर्थिक सहायता वाले एलपीजी सिलेंडरों की प्राप्ति में किए गए व्‍यय की प्रतिपूर्ति।                                                                                            |
|             21 | 20 नवम्बर, 2014   | तिथि भोजन की आदतों को अपनाना                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|             22 | 2 फरवरी, 2015     | संयुक्त समीक्षा मिशन (जेआरएम) के  संघटन के पुनर्गठन हेतु संशोधित दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                                                         |
|             23 | 13 फरवरी, 2015    | मध्याह्न भोजन (एमडीएम) योजना के तहत स्कूल स्तर की रसोईयों के लिए खाद्य सुरक्षा और स्वच्छता पर दिशा-निर्देश                                                                                                            |

**4.2	मध्याहन भोजन (एमडीएम) योजना के तहत स्कूल स्तर की रसोईयों हेतु खाद्य सुरक्षा और स्वच्छता पर दिशानिर्देश**

मध्याहन भोजन (एमडीएम) योजना के तहत स्कूल स्तर की रसोईयों हेतु खाद्य सुरक्षा और स्वच्छता पर दिशानिर्देश 13.02.2015 को जारी किए गए थे। ये व्यापक दिशा-निर्देश इस उद्देश्य के साथ तैयार किए जाते हैं कि खाद्य मदों की खरीद, भंडारण, परोसने और व्‍यर्थ का निपटान करने के सुरक्षा पहलुओं पर राज्य/संघ राज्यक्षेत्रों की सहायता कर सकें। इन दिशा-निर्देशों का उद्देश्य यह भी है कि छात्रों की वैयक्तिक स्वच्छता और मध्याहन भोजन के पकाने और परोसने में शामिल मुद्दों का समाधान करे। विटामिन और खनिजों की न्यूनतम हानि के साथ हरी पत्तेदार सब्जियों और अन्य खाद्य सामग्री को पकाने वाली प्रणालियों पर बल दिया गया है ताकि तैयार मध्याह्न भोजन बच्चों के उचित शारीरिक और मानसिक विकास के लिए पर्याप्त मात्रा में खनिज और विटामिन प्रदान कर सकें। ताजी सब्जियों और अन्य जल्दी खराब होने वाली सब्जियों की खरीद और भंडारण की प्रक्रियाएं भी प्रदान की गई हैं ताकि पोषक तत्व की हानि न्यूनतम हो और तैयार मध्याह्न भोजन से निर्धारित कैलोरी प्रोटीन और अन्य पोषक तत्व मिल सकें। वैयक्तिक स्वच्छता, भोजन की किस्म, इसे तैयार करना, परोसना और वितरण के साथ खाद्य स्वच्छता और खाद्य सुरक्षा पहलुओं पर रसोईया-सह-सहायक के प्रशिक्षण को महत्व दिया गया है। राज्य इस प्रयोजनार्थ मानक प्रचालन प्रक्रिया (एसओपी) को तैयार कर सकते हैं। शिक्षक/एसएमसी सदस्य द्वारा भोजन को चखना इस फ्लैगशिप कार्यक्रम की ओर समुदाय के बीच स्‍वामित्‍व की भावना विकसित करेगा और समुदाय को नजदीक लाएगा। एक नियत अंतराल पर पके हुए मध्याह्न भोजन के परीक्षण से कैलोरी मान संबंधी अनुवीक्षण/जांच स्थापित होगी और बैक्टीरिया मुक्त मध्याह्न भोजन मिल सकेगा। बच्चों में हाथ धोने की अच्छी आदत विकसित करके और यथोचित ढंग से मध्याह्न भोजन करने में सहायता करके उन्‍हें भारत के योग्य नागरिक बनाकर राष्ट्र निर्माण में मदद मिलेगी।

**5.	रसोई-सह-स्टोर हेतु मानदंड**

केन्द्र सरकार ने 60,000/- रूपये प्रति इकाई की सामान्य दर पर वर्ष 2006-07 से रसोई-सह-स्टोर के निर्माण हेतु 100 प्रतिशत केन्द्रीय सहायता प्रदान करना शुरू किया है। राज्य/संघ राज्यक्षेत्रों की निरंतर मांगों के आधार पर, रसोई-सह-स्टोर हेतु मानदंड 01.12.2009 से संशोधित किए गए हैं और रसोई-सह-स्टोर के निर्माण की लागत अब शेयरिंग आधार पर राज्य/संघ राज्यक्षेत्र में प्रचलित प्लिंथ एरिया मानदंड़ों और राज्य अनुसूची दरों के आधार पर निर्धारित की जाती है।

इस विभाग ने दिनांक 31.12.2009 के पत्र सं.1-1/2009-डेस्क(एमडीएम) के जरिए 100 बच्चों तक के स्कूलों में रसोई-सह-स्टोर के निर्माण हेतु प्लिंथ एरिया 20 वर्ग मीटर निर्धारित किया है। 100 बच्चों से अतिरिक्त प्रत्येक के लिए, अतिरिक्त 4 वर्ग मीटर प्लिंथ एरिया जुड़ेगा। राज्य/संघ राज्यक्षेत्रों को स्थानीय परिस्थितियों के आधार पर 100 बच्चों का स्लैब संशोधित करने के लिए कम-ज्यादा करने की छूट/सुविधा है।

वर्ष 2006-2014 के दौरान 10.06 लाख रसोई-सह-स्टोर को संस्वीकृति दी गई थी। अब तक कुल संख्या 7.21 लाख रसोई-सह-स्टोर का निर्माण किया गया है और अन्य 1.41 लाख स्टोर का निर्माण दिसम्बर, 2014 तक जारी रहेगा। 1.44 लाख रसोई-सह-स्टोर का निर्माण कार्य अभी शुरू किया जाना है। मुख्य चूककर्ता राज्य आंध्र प्रदेश, तेलंगाना, असम, बिहार, कर्नाटक, महाराष्ट्र, राजस्थान, उत्तर प्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, हरियाणा, केरल, अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप समूह, मध्य प्रदेश, झारखंड इत्यादि हैं।

**6.	एमडीएमएस के तहत कार्यरत रसोईया-सह-सहायक**

राज्यों/संघ राज्यक्षेत्रों द्वारा बच्चों का भोजन पकाने और परोसने हेतु 25.74 लाख रसोईया-सह-सहायक रखे गए हैं। रसोईया-सह-सहायकों को 01.12.2009 से 1000/- रूपये प्रतिमाह का मानदेय दिया जाता है और 25 छात्रों वाले स्कूलों के लिए एक रसोईया-सह-सहायक, 26 से 100 छात्रों वाले स्कूलों के लिए दो रसोईया-सह-सहायक और 100 छात्रों के अतिरिक्त छात्रों वाले स्कूलों के लिए एक अतिरिक्त रसोईया-सह-सहायक रखा जाता है।

**State wise details of monthly honorarium to Cook-cum-Helpers working under MDMS during 2013-14**

| **S.No**   | **State / UT**     | **Honorarium to Cook-cum-helpers including Central Share (in Rs.)**   |
|------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1          | Andhra Pradesh     | 1000                                                                  |
| 2          | Arunachal Pradesh  | 1000                                                                  |
| 3          | Assam              | 1000                                                                  |
| 4          | Bihar              | 1000                                                                  |
| 5          | Chhattisgarh       | 1200                                                                  |
| 6          | Goa                | 1000                                                                  |
| 7          | Gujarat            | 1000                                                                  |
| **8**      | **Haryana**        | **2500****                                                            |
| 9          | Himachal pradesh   | 1000                                                                  |
| 10         | Jammu & Kashmir    | 1000                                                                  |
| 11         | Jharkhand          | 1000                                                                  |
| **12**     | **Karnataka**      | **1600, 1700#**                                                       |
| **13**     | **Kerala**         | **4500***                                                             |
| 14         | Madhya Pradesh     | 1000                                                                  |
| 15         | Maharashtra        | 1000                                                                  |
| 16         | Manipur            | 1000                                                                  |
| 17         | Meghalaya          | 1000                                                                  |
| **18**     | **Mizoram**        | **1500**                                                              |
| 19         | Nagaland           | 1000                                                                  |
| 20         | Orissa             | 1000                                                                  |
| **21**     | **Punjab**         | **1200**                                                              |
| 22         | Rajasthan          | 1000                                                                  |
| 23         | Sikkim             | 1000                                                                  |
| **24**     | **Tamil Nadu**     | **regular time scale Rs.5500-7500**                                   |
| 25         | Tripura            | 1000                                                                  |
| 26         | Uttar Pradesh      | 1000                                                                  |
| **27**     | **Uttarakhand**    | **1500**                                                              |
| **28**     | **West Bengal**    | **1500**                                                              |
| 29         | A&N Islands        | 1000                                                                  |
| **30**     | **Chandigarh**     | **1872**                                                              |
| **31**     | **D&N Haveli** | **2400**                                                              |
| 32         | Daman & Diu        | 1000                                                                  |
| 33         | Delhi              | 1000                                                                  |
| **34**     | **Lakshadweep**    | **6000**                                                              |
| **35**     | **Puducherry**     | **5000, 6000, 9000*****                                               |

* 	Rs.4500 per month per CCH upto enrolment of 100 and Rs.25 extra for every 	additional 100 	students.

# 	Rs.1600 to helper and Rs.1700 to head cook.

**	w.e.f. 1st January, 2014.(earlier it was Rs.1450)

***	Three categories.

**7.	Complaints received since 2012 (till 15.07.2015)**

**Abstract of various types of action taken on complaints received since 2012 (as on 15.07.2015)**

| **Sl. No.**   | **Type of action**                                                                                                                             | **2012**   |           |          |           | **2013**   |           |          |           | **2014**   |           |          |           | **2015**   |           |          |           | **Total**   |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-----------|----------|-----------|------------|-----------|----------|-----------|------------|-----------|----------|-----------|------------|-----------|----------|-----------|-------------|
|               |                                                                                                                                                | **PQ**     | **Misap** | **irre** | **caste** | **PQ**     | **Misap** | **irre** | **caste** | **PQ**     | **Misap** | **irre** | **caste** | **PQ**     | **Misap** | **irre** | **caste** |             |
| **1**         | **Departmental action (including warning, transfer, suspension) and action against service providers/complaint substantiated, by State Govt.** | **7**      | **5**     | **1**    | **-**     | **5**      | **4**     | **2**    | **-**     | **6**      | **-**     | **1**    | **-**     | **4**      | **1**     | **-**    | **-**     | **36**      |
| **2**         | **General corrective action, including issue of instructions to concerned, by State Govt. /GOI.**                                              | **4**      | **1**     | **7**    | **-**     | **5**      | **-**     | **5**    | **-**     | **4**      | **1**     | **3**    | **-**     | **1**      | **-**     | **-**    | **-**     | **31**      |
| **3**         | **Under enquiry/investigation**  **at state level**                                                                                            | **-**      | **1**     | **-**    | **-**     | **4**      | **1**     | **-**    | **-**     | **7**      | **3**     | **-**    | **-**     | **-**      | **-**     | **-**    | **-**     | **16**      |
| **4**         | **Reply awaited**                                                                                                                              | **1**      | **2**     | **-**    | **-**     | **2**      | **6**     | **6**    | **-**     | **18**     | **26**    | **9**    | **-**     | **11**     | **13**    | **11**   | **-**     | **105**     |
| **5**         | **Baseless, not proved, not related to MDM**                                                                                                   | **2**      | **4**     | **7**    | **-**     | **2**      | **6**     | **3**    | **2**     | **6**      | **4**     | **-**    | **1**     | **2**      | **-**     | **-**    | **-**     | **39**      |
| **6**         | **Total**                                                                                                                                      | **14**     | **13**    | **15**   |           | **18**     | **17**    | **16**   | **2**     | **41**     | **34**    | **13**   | **1**     | **18**     | **14**    | **11**   | **-**     | **227**     |
| **7**         | **Overall number of complaints received.**                                                                                                     | **42**     |           |          |           | **53**     |           |          |           | **89**     |           |          |           | **43**     |           |          |           | **227**     |

**7.1         State and year wise details of complaints regarding under MDMS received since 2012 (till 15.07.2015)**

| **Sl. No.**   | **State/UT**      | **Misappropriation**   |          |          |          | **Poor Quality**   |          |          |          | **Irregularities**   |          |          |          | **Castism**   |          |          |          | **Total**   |
|---------------|-------------------|------------------------|----------|----------|----------|--------------------|----------|----------|----------|----------------------|----------|----------|----------|---------------|----------|----------|----------|-------------|
|               |                   | **2012**               | **2013** | **2014** | **2015** | **2012**           | **2013** | **2014** | **2015** | **2012**             | **2013** | **2014** | **2015** | **2012**      | **2013** | **2014** | **2015** |             |
| 1             | Andhra Pradesh    |                        |          | 1        |          |                    |          | 2        |          |                      |          |          | 2        |               |          |          |          | 5           |
| 2             | Arunachal Pradesh |                        |          |          | 1        |                    |          |          |          |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
| 3             | A& N Islands      |                        |          |          |          |                    |          | 1        |          |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
| 4             | Assam             |                        |          | 1        |          |                    |          |          | 1        |                      | 1        | 3        | 2        |               |          |          |          | 8           |
| 5             | Bihar             | 2                      | 3        | 10       | 4        | 2                  | 5        | 9        | 6        | 2                    | 2        | 1        | 1        |               |          |          |          | 47          |
| 6             | Chhattisgarh      |                        |          |          |          |                    | 1        | 3        |          |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 4           |
| 7             | Delhi             |                        |          | 2        |          | 2                  | 1        | 2        | 1        |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 8           |
| 8             | Gujarat           |                        |          |          |          |                    |          | 1        |          |                      |          |          |          |               | 1        |          |          | 2           |
| 9             | Goa               |                        |          |          |          |                    |          |          | 1        |                      | 1        |          |          |               |          |          |          | 2           |
| 10            | Haryana           | 2                      | 2        | 3        |          | 1                  | 1        | 1        |          |                      | 1        | 2        |          |               |          |          |          | 13          |
| 11            | Himachal Pradesh  |                        |          |          |          |                    |          |          | 1        |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
| 12            | Jharkhand         | 1                      | 2        | 2        |          |                    | 1        | 3        |          | 2                    |          |          | 3        |               |          |          |          | 14          |
| 13            | Karnataka         |                        |          |          |          | 1                  | 1        | 3        |          | 1                    |          |          |          |               |          | 1        |          | 7           |
| 14            | Kerala            |                        |          |          |          |                    |          |          |          |                      |          | 1        |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
| 15            | Madhya Pradesh    |                        | 2        | 1        |          | 2                  |          | 3        |          | 1                    | 1        |          |          |               | 1        |          |          | 11          |
| 16            | Maharashtra       | 2                      |          |          |          | 1                  |          | 2        | 4        |                      | 3        |          |          |               |          |          |          | 12          |
| 17            | Odisha            |                        | 1        |          |          |                    | 3        | 4        | 1        | 1                    |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 10          |
| 18            | Punjab            |                        | 1        |          | 1        |                    |          |          |          | 1                    |          | 1        |          |               |          |          |          | 4           |
| 19            | Rajasthan         |                        |          | 1        |          |                    | 2        |          |          | 1                    |          |          | 1        |               |          |          |          | 5           |
| 20            | Tamil Nadu        |                        |          |          |          |                    | 1        |          |          |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
| 21            | Tripura           |                        |          |          |          |                    |          |          | 1        |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
| 22            | Uttarakhand       |                        | 2        | 1        |          |                    |          |          |          | 2                    |          | 1        |          |               |          |          |          | 6           |
| 23            | Uttar Pradesh     | 5                      | 3        | 10       | 8        | 3                  | 1        | 6        | 2        | 2                    | 5        | 4        | 2        |               |          |          |          | 51          |
| 24            | West Bengal       | 1                      | 1        | 2        |          | 2                  | 1        |          |          | 2                    | 2        |          |          |               |          |          |          | 11          |
| 25            | Telangana         | -                      | -        | -        | -        | -                  | -        | 1        |          |                      |          |          |          |               |          |          |          | 1           |
|               | **Total**         | **13**                 | **17**   | **34**   | **14**   | **14**             | **18**   | **41**   | **18**   | **15**               | **16**   | **13**   | **11**   | **-**         | **2**    | **1**    | **-**    | **227**     |

**8.	Components of Central Assistance**

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

**8.1.1 	Cost of foodgrains**

Under the Scheme foodgrains (wheat and rice) @100 grams 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 regional / district levels and make the payment directly to FCI. The foodgrains are supplied by the FCI at BPL rate which is Rs. 5.65 per kg. for rice and Rs. 4.15 per kg. for wheat. The Central Government has kept a revolving fund of Rs. 300 crore with FCI. The FCI is supplying foodgrains to the Mid Day Meal Scheme on post-payment basis since inception of the Scheme in 1995.

**8.1.2 	Transportation Cost**

The Government of India bears the entire 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 Special Category 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.

**8.1.3	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.

**8.1.4	Procurement of kitchen devices**

One time Central Assistance @ Rs.5000 is provided to States/UTs for provisioning of kitchen devices per school. The funds @ Rs. 5000 per school is also being provided for replacement of kitchen devices to the States after every 5 years.

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

**NOTE FOR SUPPLIMENTARIES**

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).

1. **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**   |                   |
|--------------|-------------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
|              |                         | **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       |

- 2.1.1. **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 and 1.7.2014. The cooking cost is shared between the Centre and the NER States on 90:10 basis and with other States/UTs on 75:25 basis. Accordingly, 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**   |                 |                        |                 |
|--------------------------|-------------|---------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------|------------------------|-----------------|
|                          |             |                           | **Non-NER States(75:25)**  |                 | **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.        | Same as 2014-15           | Same as 2014-15            | Same as 2014-15 | Same as 2014-15        | Same as 2014-15 |
|                          | U. Py.      | Same as 2014-15           | Same as 2014-15            | Same as 2014-15 | Same as 2014-15        | Same as 2014-15 |

Cooking cost includes costs of pulses, vegetables, cooking oil and condiments and fuel.

- 2.1.1. **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 NER States on 90:10 basis and with other States/UTs on 75:25 basis.

- 2.1.1. **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 7.21 lakh kitchen-cum-stores have been constructed and another 1.41 lakh are in progress upto December, 2014. The construction work in 1.44 lakh kitchen-cum-stores 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.

- 2.1.1. **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.

- 2.1.1. **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.

1. **Evolution path of MDM Scheme**

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

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1. **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:

1. 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. Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
3. Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.

1. **Rationale of the scheme**

1. **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. **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. **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. **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.
5. **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. **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. **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.

2. **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**       |                                       |                                   | **Upper Primary Stage**   |                                  |                              |
|--------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------|
|              |                             | **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                         |

1. **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.

- 1.1. **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.

- 1.1. **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.

- 1.1. **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.

- 1.1. **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:

1. **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%. Cooking cost has further been enhanced by 7.5% from 01.07.2014 and the present cooking cost is as under:

| **Stage**   | **Total cooking cost per meal**   | **Centre-State sharing**   |           |                        |           |
|-------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------|------------------------|-----------|
|             |                                   | **Non-NER States(75:25)**  |           | **NER States (90:10)** |           |
|             |                                   | **Centre**                 | **State** | **Centre**             | **State** |
| Pry.        | Rs.3.59                           | Rs.2.69                    | Rs.0.90   | Rs.3.23                | Rs.0.36   |
| U. Pry.     | Rs.5.38                           | Rs.4.04                    | Rs.1.34   | Rs.4.84                | Rs.0.54   |

Cooking cost includes costs of pulses, vegetables, cooking oil and condiments and fuel.

1. **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.

1. **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.

1. 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:

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1. **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 self-help 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.**

1. **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.

1. **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.

1. **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.***

1. **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.

1. **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:

1. **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. **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:

1. Quantity of food grains received, date of receipt.
2. Quantity of food grains utilized
3. Other ingredients purchased, utilized
4. Number of children given mid day meal.
5. Daily Menu
6. Roster of Community Members for supervision and monitoring.

1. **Block level Committee** :  A broad based Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee also monitors the implementation of the Mid Day Meal Scheme at the block levels.
2. **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.
3. **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 :

1. All Members of Parliament, Members of the State Legislature and members of the Zilla Parishad
2. The District Magistrate/Collector/Deputy Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad/Urban local body will be the Member-Secy.
3. District  Officer in-charge of MDM
4. District Officers in-charge of Drinking Water Mission / Total Sanitation Programme / ICDS Programme/Panchayati Raj / Labour / Handicapped Welfare/Social Welfare / Minority Welfare etc.
5. 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.

1. **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.,
2. **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.
3. **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.
4. **State level** : States and UT Administrations are also required to set up a Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee at the State level to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. States / UTs have deployed independent institutions for the evaluation of the Scheme.
5. **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.
6. 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.

**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.**

1. **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](http://www.mdm.nic.in/) .

1. **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](http://www.mdm.nic.in/) .

1. **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:

1. “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.
2. “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.
3. “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.
4. 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.
5. “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.
6. “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.
7. “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.

1. **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.

1. **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.’’

1. **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:

1. **Food grain (Rice) related issues:**

1. School gets inadequate quantity of rice- 3-4 Kgs less than required
2. Poor quality rice is served in the meals- Mostly broken rice with stones & worms
3. Many children complained of stomach ache because of this rice.
4. There is a mismatch between the closing balance and opening balance in rice stock.
5. 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.
6. Left over rice bags are missing from the school stockroom.
7. At the school level HMs are responsible for rice lifting and distribution

1. **Honorarium to Cook Cum Helpers**

1. 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 actually working in the school and 6 CCHs in Khammam and 4 in Chittoor are benami.
2. 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.
3. Delay in payment to CCH.
4. 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.

1. **Cooking cost & consumption of meals.**

1. Excess meals were recorded more than food consumed.
2. In Tirupati rural, Chittoor district-ISKCON is serving Meals

- Poor quality rice since 4-5 months.
- Number of children availing MDM is less than the enrolment. But the payment to NGO is being done on the basis of enrolment.
- Food quantity sent to the schools in cans is 50% lesser than the requirement
- NGO is not taking every day attendance from the HMs before cooking.

3. 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.

1. **Facilities at the school**

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

1. **Suggestions/Recommendations by SSAAT**

1. 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.
2. 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 area-towards a mutual goal
3. Training- Training of SMCs and local youths should be a continuous process.
4. 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.
5. Availability of all records to auditors and Social Audit process should be independent

1. **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.

2. **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 |         29.30 |         29.45 |         29.40 |         29.20 | 29.26         |         29.77 | 29.33         | 13.86*        |
| 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         | 2462.00$      |
| Total Exp. (in Cr.)                         |       3483.60 |       4999.55 |       5621.67 |       7786.56 |       9235.82 | 10196.98      |      10873.75 | 8209.16@      | --            |
| % Exp. against release                      |            60 |            76 |            81 |            85 |            93 | 94            |         99.50 | 78            |               |

*	For first six months of 2015-16

#	Expected coverage during 2015-16

@	Expenditure as on 31.12.2014

$	Releases till date (21.07.2015)

1. **Performance of the Scheme over the years in major States**

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

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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.

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1. **No. of children covered by NGOs**

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

| **S. No.**   | **State**      | **Districts**   | **No. of NGO 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***

1. **Improvements in the Scheme**

1. In the last few years the Mid Day Meal programme witnessed several improvements in the scheme, as indicated below:

9. The cooking cost has been revised by 7.5% w.e.f. 1.7.2014
- 2.1.1.2. An amount of Rs.9236.40 crore has been allocated under Budget Estimate 2015-16 of this Department for implementation of MDM Scheme.
- 2.1.1.3. Allocation of food grains to States/UTs under MDM Scheme for the first six months (April-Sept,2015) during 2015-16 has been made.

- 2.1.1.1. 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.

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.

2. 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.
3. 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).
4. 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.

- 2.1. **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:

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

2. **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 MDM in 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 MDM Scheme.                                                                                                                             |
| 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 MDM Mela,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Chhattisgarh                                                  | 100% Self-Help Group in rural areas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |

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