The mid-day meal scheme will now be known as PM POSHAN.
Changes:
around 24 lakh students receiving pre-primary education at government and government-aided schools will also be brought under the ambit of the scheme from next year.
Under the mid-day meal scheme, hot cooked food is provided currently to students from Classes 1 to 8 — around 11.80 crore children in all, in 11.20 lakh government and government-aided schools.
Under PM Poshan Shakti Nirman or PM POSHAN scheme, 24 lakh more children in pre-primary classes, currently covered under the ICDS, will also be brought in.
PM POSHAN does not propose any hike in the honorarium of cooks and workers, though Pradhan said states are “free to do that”.
For Nutrition
The new scheme has a provision for supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those with high prevalence of anaemia.
Currently, if a state decides to add any component like milk or eggs to the menu, the Centre does not bear the additional cost. Now that restriction has been lifted.
under PM POSHAN, nutri-gardens will be developed in schools to give children “firsthand experience with nature and gardening”.
To promote vocal for local, women self-help groups and farmer producer organisations will be encouraged to provide a fillip to locally grown traditional food items.
Financing:
PM POSHAN has been launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
The Centre will bear Rs 54,061 crore of the total estimated cost of Rs 1.3 lakh crore, with the states paying Rs 31,733 crore (Rs 45,000 crore will be released by the Centre as subsidies for food grains).
Objectives Of Mid-Day Meal Scheme
To increase the enrolment in the schools of the children who belong to disadvantaged sections of the society.
To increase the attendance of the children in government and government-aided schools.
To retain the children studying in class I to VIII.
To give nutritional support to the children studying in the elementary stage, especially in the drought-affected areas.
To address hunger and malnutrition and improve socialisation among castes.
Features Of Mid-Day Meal Scheme
Every school should have a hygienic cooking infrastructure for hygienically cooked mid-day meals.
The mid-day meals are to be served only on the school premises on all working days of the school.
The Food and Drugs Administration Department of the State can collect samples for ensuring the quality and nutritional value of the meals.
The State Steering-cum Monitoring Committee (SSMC) will oversee the implementation of this scheme, including establishing a mechanism to maintain the quality and nutritional standards of the meals.
Food allowance is provided to the children when the cooked meals cannot be provided because of unforeseen circumstances.
