SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDED- MID DAY MEAL

AN INITIATIVE BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO MAKE A HUNGER FREE CLASSROOM

Presented by-
Sheersha Kar
Roll No – 28
Semester – 2
Paper – 1.2.9(Second half)
Unit – IV : Special Services Provided
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College( Department of B.Ed)
University of Calcutta
Date Of Presentation : 13.04.2021
“There is an interesting story about how K.Kamraj got the idea of
a noon meal scheme. He saw a few boys busy with their cows
and goats.
He asked one of the boys, “What are you doing with this cows?
Why didn’t you go to school?” The boy immediately answered,
“If I go to school, will you give me food to eat? I can learn only
if I eat.” The boy’s retort sparked the entire process into
establishing the MIDDAY MEAL PROGRAMME.
 BRIEF HISTORY
 In 1925, a Mid Day Meal Programme was introduced for disadvantaged children in Madras Municipal
Corporation.

 This programme was started by K.Kamraj in Tamil Nadu and later expanded by M.G.Ramachandran
in 1982.

 It provides lunch free of cost to all school going children in all working days.

 It is World’s largest feeding programme reaching up to 12 crore children in over 1,265,000 schools.

 In 1995, Government of India implemented it as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to

Primary Education.

 The National Programme Of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as
a centrally sponsored scheme on 15th August 1995, initially in 2408 blocks in the country.

 It was further extended in 2002 to cover not only children in classes I-V of Government,
Government aided and local body schools, but also children studying in Education Guarantee
Scheme(EGS) and Alternative and Innovative Education(AIE) centres, Madrasa and Maqtabs supported
by SSA and National Child Labour Project schools.

 The scheme consisted of free supply of food grains, 100 gm per child per school day and subsidy for
transportation of food grains up to a maximum of Rs 50 per quintal.

 Many states provided only “dry rations” until 2001.

 BACKGROUND
 The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a school meal programme of the Government of India
designed to improve the nutritional status of school age children Nationwide.

 On 28th November, 2001 the Supreme Court of India passed an order stating, “We
direct State Governments/Union Territories to implement the Mid Day Meal Scheme by
providing every child in every Government assisted primary school with a prepared mid-
day meal.”

 Under Article 24, Paragraph 2c of the Convention on the Rights of the child, India has
committed to providing ‘adequate nutritious foods’ for children.

 The programme entered the planning stages in 2001 and was implemented in 2004.

 Free and compulsory education up to the age of 14 years is the constitutional

commitment and it is estimated that primary school children (6-14 years), about 20% of
the total population.

 Poor enrolment and high school dropout rate are attributed to the poor nutritional
status of the children compounded by poor socio-economic conditions, child labour and
lack of motivation.
Continued….

 The adoption of SSA as a National Policy, has contributed to this scheme. Also a
number of self help groups are activate and several NGOs willfully participated.

 MDM encourages social interaction between different communities and thus

contributes to social equity.

 Supreme Court has also directed that kitchens for mid day meal must not be in an
open area and proper infrastructure should be provided in the school premises where
food will be cooked, proper hygiene will be maintained, and proper sitting area must be
provided where students will sit for lunch.

“Mid Day Meal Scheme envisages supply of adequate quantities of micro-nutrients such as

iron, Folic Acid, zinc and these micro-nutrients to be supplemented through convergence

with the school health and other programmes of the National Rural Health Mission

(NRHM) of the Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare, for this no budgetary support is

provided under the Mid Day meal scheme. These appropriate supplementations are

provided depending on common deficiencies found only in local areas to target the

beneficiary group.”
 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME

 Protecting children from classroom hunger.

 Addressing the issue of malnutrition among children.
 Improving the nutritional status of children in classes I-VIII
in Government, Local Body and Government aided
schools, EGS and AIE centres, studying in school hours.
 Providing nutritional support to children of primary stage
in drought affected areas during summer.
 Boost Universalisation of Elementary Education-
increasing enrolment, attendance, retention and bring
down the drop out rate.
 Encouraging children belonging to disadvantaged sections,
to attend more regularly and help them concentrate on
classroom activities.
 Improve socialisation among all castes.
 Empower women through employment.
 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
At National Level
Empowered Committee with Minister, MHRD as
Chairman.
1.Programme Approval Board for
At National Level approving annual work plan and
Steering cum Monitoring Committee with secretary, budget of states.
Department of School Education & Literacy as 2.National Mission of SSA will also
Chairman and members from different ministries, review MDM.
experts.
At State Level
Steering cum Monitoring Committee with Chief
Nodal Department for Scheme
Secretary/ Additional Chief Secretary/Development
implementation.
Commissioner as Chairman & members from other
departments, experts

At District Level District level committee with senior

Steering cum Monitoring Committee with MP as chairperson, MPs, MLAs,ZP
collector/CEO, ZP as Chairman and officers from members, Collector/CEO(ZP) and
other departments, experts. other district officers.

At Block Level
Steering cum Monitoring Committee with
SDO/Block Panchayat Officer as Chairman,Officers
from other departments and experts.

At School Level
School Management Committee
Mid Day Meal Scheme In West Bengal

 From January 2003, the Cooked Mid-Day Meal

Programme was started in West Bengal in 1100
backward schools of 6 districts. Now it is running
in almost all educational districts in West Bengal.
Nearly One crore Thirty Six lakhs students are
taking MDM in every school day. Recent report
shows that the state has been able to cover 88%
& 82% of enrolled students in primary and Upper
Primary schools respectively.
 STATUS TODAY

STAGE TOTAL COST CENTRAL - STATE SHARING

PER MILL 60:40

Central State
Contribution Contribution

Primary Rs. 4.97 Rs. 2.98 Rs. 1.99

Upper Rs 7.45 Rs. 4.47 Rs. 2.98

Primary

Data collected from http://mdm.wbsed.gov.in

 CALORIES- 480
CALORIES-720

PROTEINS- 12gms
PROTEIN-20gms

P Micronutrients like- S Micronutrients like-

R iron, folic acid, vitamin E iron, folic acid, vitamin
I A C A
M O
A N
R D
Y A
R
Y
The Calories and proteins are provided by way of cooking MDM with food
grains(rice/wheat), pulse, vegetables, oil and fat and with salt and condiments.
Whereas micronutrients are given by using Vitamin, Iron , Folic acid tablets and
supplements. The details are-
TOTAL COVERAGE OF SCHOOLS AND ENROLMENT
 MENU IN WEST BENGAL SCHOOLS

 MONDAY : Rice, Dal, Potato and Vegetable Currry

 TUESDAY : Rice, Dal, Egg or Fish Curry
 WEDNESDAY : Rice, Dal, Mixed Vegetable
 THURSDAY : Rice, Fish or Egg curry,Vegetables
 FRIDAY : Rice, Dal, Potato curry
 SATURDAY : Rice, Dal, Soyabean and Potato Curry
During the Coronavirus Pandemic, The Scheme was not interrupted.
Government directed the Schools to provide dry rations (3kg Rice, 3kg
Potato, 500gm Dal, Soyabean, Egg, Mask and Sanitizers) and asked the
Parents to collect so that Children do not face any difficulty in having
food and proper nutrition and also they can maintain proper hygiene.
 ROLE OF TEACHERS IN SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF
MID DAY MEAL PROGRAMME
Involvement of Teaching and Non-teaching staff in performance of Mid Day Meal Scheme-(MDMS) in

school has been clearly articulated in the order No. 111-CS/2011 Dated 09.06.2011 of the Chief

Secretary to the Government of West Bengal and this department's order No. 958(40)-SE (Plng)/0/MDM-
31/2010, Date : 20.12.2010.
 The Headmaster/ Headmistress/ Teacher in charge will oversee the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) so
as to ensure its proper and uninterrupted functioning in the schools.
 He/ she may entrust day running of Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) to one or
two Teachers according to the convenience of Teaching and administrative position of the school.
 Responsibility to run and man the scheme may be devolved to the Teachers on rotational basis.
 He/she will encourage community participation in the scheme for enrichment of its quality and
standard and to ensure this, monthly meeting with guardians / parents /VEC may be arranged positively
in the first week of each month in schools.
 Cooked food must be tested by one Teacher and one cook prior to service of the same to the
students in schools.
 He/she may ask other Teachers and Non-teaching staff to help the students wash their hands take
meal and thereafter wash their hands and dishes in a disciplined way so that entire process be
completed within said time. there should be no pushing and jostling in any line which may cause
accident.
Continued………
 Maintenance of cleanliness in the kitchen and outside with the schools must be taken
care of in the interest of boosting of Hygienic condition.
 Monitoring of cooking and service of Mid Day Meal by the Head of the Schools is
insisted upon, as it will leave salutary effect on the scheme.
 Annual & monthly Data necessary for MIS web portal i.e. www.trgmdm.nic.in and
other required information must be sent to the concerned Block Office by the Head of
the School.
 The cash book, stock Register, daily expenditure register and a separate register for
keeping accounts of additional fund for LPG gas cylinders must be maintained in each
and every school.
 Correct Mid Day Meal bank account number including the phone number of the
Headmaster /Headmistress / Teacher in Charge and Assistant Headmaster / Assistant
Headmistress /any Teacher who is looking after Mid Day Meal Scheme must be sent to
the concerned Block Office.

-data collected from http://www.wbhmnews.com

 BENIFITS OF MID-DAY MEAL SCHEME

The MDM scheme has many potential benefits-

 Attracting children from disadvantaged sections(especially girls, Dalits and Adivasis) to
school, so that they can also come under the light of education.
 Improving regularity in the classroom,
 Solving malnutrition issue.
 According to Maslow’s Need HierarchyTheory, Physiological needs are at the base of the
pyramid, thus food is the most fundamental need for livelihood. If children get proper meal
and satisfy his/her hunger, he/she may aspire to fulfill his/her other needs, and that can be
achieved through education.Thus they will be motivated to study in the school.
 Socialization and women empowerment through employment(Angadwadi and Mid-Day
Meal kitchen).
 According to census 2011, West Bengal has 77% literacy rate, above the national average
of 74.04%, mid day scheme played a major role in this progress, as it has drawn many
children towards school.
A study done by professor Amartya Sen’s Pratichi Research Team in West
Bengal shows that Mid-day meal has increased the enrolment and attendence
of children in schools. The increase has been more rapid with respect to girls
and children belonging to sc/st category.
 PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTATION
 Corrupt practices
 Shortfall in infrastructure.
 Lack of proper supervision and monitoring.
 Lack of responsibility by school authority, one must remember that it is a duty assigned by
Government, not a charity programme.
 Low quality food supply.
 Improper food preparation.
 Many children bunk the classes after having the mid-day meal, thus the objective cannot be fulfilled.
 Uncontrolled population growth indirectly affects the mid-day meal programme. Poverty is such a
curse that School going children carries their foods like boiled eggs to home to feed their younger
siblings who are still not at the age to join school. Thus the main objective of the scheme is
somehow disrupted.
Despite having World’s largest feeding programme. India secured 94th rank in 2020 Global Hunger Index,
out of 107 countries, much behind Pakistan and Bangladesh, although funds are provided from
international organisations like FAO,WHO, IMF, World Bank for this scheme. With a score of 27.2, India
has a level of hunger that is serious. According to this report, 14% of India’s population is
undernourished. It also says that the country recorded a child stunning rate of 37.4%. From this data, it
is evident that still the scheme has to play a major role to recover from this position and offer the
countrymen their basic need- FOOD.
For this, ministers, administrators, teachers, citizens- everyone should behave in more responsible
manner for country’s betterment.
 REFERENCES
 http://www.slideshare.net >bhawi26 : mid-day meal
 http://www.mdm.nic.in>States : National Programme of mid-day meal in
Schools(MDMS), annual work plan and budget 2020-21, West Bengal.
 http://www.indiatoday.in: Report on West Bengal Fixes midday meal menu for govt
schools, fish or egg to be given twice a week.
 http://www.mdm.wbsed.gov.in :Official website of mid day meal scheme, Government
of West Bengal.
 http://www.indianexpress.com >india :Report on Global Hunger Index 2020: India
ranks 94 out of 107 countries, under ‘serious’ category.
 http://www.samajho.com : Mid-Day Meal : Analysis and Challenges.
 http://www.ijhssi.org : Mid-Day meal Scheme : Achievements and Challenges.
 Sarkar. A ; Assessment for the learning process and system, Rita book agency & Rita
Book House; 2018-19, Kolkata.
 DON’T WASTE FOOD

THANK
YOU