MID-DAY Meal Scheme

It was first conceptualized in 1995 to improve enrollment, retention and attendance of students alongwith improving nutritional levels among children via National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE).

• With subsequent changes in 2004 and 2006, the scheme was revised to provide cooked mid-day meals to students studying in class 1 to 5. In 2007 though the scheme was extended upto students of class 8.

Issues and Controversies

• With time the focus of the scheme has been limited to ensure wider reach rather than maintaining quality. The government only concentrates on statistics as to how many number of schools they are able to cover and provide food.
• No proper inspection to inspect the quality of meals; instances like that of Bihar where 23 childrens died post eating mid-day meal are shocking.
• Prevailing corruption results in food supplies being diverted, supplies being halved and large scale wastages.
• The social evils of casteism, class divide results into exclusion errors.
• Though 99% of schools are providing mid-day meals but the frequency varies from one meal a day to one meal a week.
• The government must counter these follies via:
  • Ensuring proper accountability mechanism to check corruption and poor quality.
  • Social audit and performance audits of such schemes must be allowed to know the effectiveness of such schemes.
  • Mandating proper implementation of scheme guidelines like calorie requirement and frequency of diet.
  • Regularly updating and adopting targeted approach to focus on poorer districts and regions.
  • Mid-day meal scheme has not just revolutionized child healthcare scenario in India by addressing malnutrition but has also ensured retention and high enrollment of children in schools. Hence it’s a major success.