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National Mid-Day Scheme in India!
Introduction:
The Mid-day meal scheme was launched by the ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Education) with effect from 15th August 1995 for the benefit of students in primary schools under Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS).
The scheme covers students of class 1 to V in the Government Primary Schools/Primary Schools aided by government and the primary schools by local bodies.
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Food grains (wheat and rice) are supplied free of cost—100 gram per child per school day where cooked/processed hot meal is being served with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein to each school for a minimum of 200 days and 3 kgs. per student per month for 9 to 11 months in a year, where food-grains distributed in raw form. In drought affected areas the mid day meal is distributed in summer vacations also.
To cut down delays in implementation of the scheme. Department of Elementary Education and literacy has authorized to make state/union territories-wise allocation of food grains under intimation to this department. Food Corporation of India (FCl) releases food grains to states/union territories at BPL rates as per allocation made by Department of Elementary Education and Literacy.
Background:
The National Programme of Nutritional support for primary education i.e. the national mid-day meal scheme was initiated in 1995. By 2001 a few states were providing cooked meals, but most were only giving monthly “day rations” of food grain to school children.
The number of states providing cooked meals rose sharply from early 2002 onwards, after a Supreme Court Order (dated 28 November 2001) directed all state governments to introduce cooked mid-day meals in primary schools.
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The order reads, “we direct the state Governments/ Union territories to implement the mid-day meal scheme by providing every child in every government and government assisted primary school with a prepared mid-day meal with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein each day of school for a minimum of 200 days.”
In a follow-up order dated 20th April 2004, the Supreme Court directed all states/UTs to comply with the order of 28th November 2001 by 1st September 2004 at the latest. This order also states that “………… the Central Government shall make provisions for construction of kitchen sheds and shall also allocate funds to meet with the conversion costs of food-grains into cooked mid-day meals”.
As on 27th August 2004, twenty three out of thirty five states and union territories have achieved full coverage of primary schools under the cooked mid-day meal programme. The defaulters include some of the larger states such as Bihar, UP and West Bengal. As a result, only 55% of all children entitled to cooked meals are covered as on 27th August 2004.
Recent evidence suggests that mid-day meals have made a promising start in many states. However, quality issues need urgent attention if the programme is to achieve its full potential. The quality of the mid-day meal programme varies widely across states due to differences in financial allocations, administrative arrangements, infrastructural facilities etc.
Expenditure on “conversion costs” has a strong bearing on the quality’ of mid-day meals. This varies from 50 paisa per child per day in Rajasthan and Maharashtra to Rs. 8.50 in Goa. On average, state governments spend Rs. 1.17 per child per day on conversion costs.
The quality of mid-day meal programmers could be drastically enhanced by introducing a minimum norm of Rs. 2 per child per day everywhere. States with a strong commitment to raid-day meals (Such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala) are already spending approximately Rs. 2 per child per day on conversion costs.
Recent Developments:
i. The budget allocation for mid-day meals in 2004-05 is Rs. 1,675 crores (up from Rs. 1,375 in 2003-04). This allocation was the same in the interim budget and the final budget. It covers the provision of grain for mid-day meal programmes but not “conversion costs”.
II. A proposal for central assistance for mid-day meals has been prepared by the ministry of Human Resource Development. This involves assistance for conversion costs (one rupee per child per day) up to class 5 from 1st September 2004 and extension to class 8 from 14th November 2004. Estimated Cost: Rs. 1,860 crores over and above the amount (Rs. 1,675 crores) already available to the ministry.
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III. The proposal, costing Rs. 1,860 crores, appears to have been cleared by the Expenditure Finance Committee. Mean while, however, the planning commission has made an additional provision of only Rs. 1.232 crores for mid-day meals, out of the Rs. 10,000 crores allotted to it in the 2004-05 budget for the purpose of implementing the common minimum programme. It is not clear where the balance is supposed to come from.
IV. The additional amount of Rs. 1,232 crores allocated for mid-day meals by the planning commission comes under the ‘State Plan’ portion of this fund of Rs. 10,000 crores. This appears to be linked with a proposal to ‘transfer’ the mid-day meal scheme to the states from next year onwards. This proposal is quite alarming as some state governments may be tempted to ‘divert’ mid-day meal allocations for other purposes.
V. Education Cess: The central government plans to allocate a significant part of the Education Cess to mid-day meals and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. But the fate of the Education Cess is not clear. The proceeds of the cess are to be paid into the consolidated fund of the Government of India, and the ministry of Human Resource and development fears that they may be used for purposes other than elementary education. The standing committee on Finance has recommended that the proceeds should be kept in a dedicated non-lapsable account similar to the central road fund.
Recommendations for Immediate Action:
1. A minimum norm of Rs. 2 per child per day for “conversion costs” should be introduced all over the country.
2. Adequate resources should be made available (from the Education cess or elsewhere) to enable the ministry of Human Resource Development to implement its proposal for central assistance to mid-day meals, i.e. one rupee per child per day up to class V from 1st September 2004, one rupee per child per day up to class VIII from 14th November 2004 and related support.
3. Strict instructions should be issued to the effect that central assistance for mid-day meals is intended as a supplement to the resources already provided by state governments and not as a substitute for them.
4. In case of states that have not achieved full coverage or adequate quality standards up to class V, funds allocated by the Central Government for extension of mid-day meals up to class VIII from 14th November 2004 should be available for consolidation of the mid-day meal scheme at the primary level if the state Government considers this preferable. However all states should extend mid-day meals to class VIII from 1st July 2005 at the latest.
5. The arrangement whereby grain is provided free of cost to state governments through the FCI should continue. This responsibility should not be “transferred” to the state governments.
6. A high level Expert Group should be formed to review the National Programme of Nutritional Support for Primary Education (NPNSPE) in the light of supreme court orders, the common minimum programme, and recent experiences in different states.
The responsibilities of the Expert Group should include:
(i) Defining minimum quality norms for all mid-day meal schemes in the country.
(ii) Preparing updated guidelines for NPNSPE to ensure minimum quality norms, compliance with Supreme Court orders, effective monitoring arrangements, health safeguards, linking of mid-day meals with an active school health programme etc.
(iii) Conducting or commissioning an expert assessment of the nutritional value of mid-day meals in different states, and suggesting improvements wherever necessary’.
7. Assistance for mid-day meal infrastructure (cooking sheds, drinking water, storage place etc.) should be made available either in the form of direct central assistance under the ministry of HIRD or through other schemes such as SGRY, PMGY, SSA etc. Proactive efforts should be made to ensure that every school has the requisite infrastructure.
8. All cooks and helpers to be appointed henceforth should be women, and preference should be given to dalits.
9. From 1st July 2005, all mid-day meal schemes should include a component of “micronutrient supplementation” covering essential micronutrients such as Vitamin—A, Iron and Iodine. Central assistance should be available for this component of the mid-day meal schemes and the necessary financial allocations should be made in the 2005-06 budget.
10. “School health” programmes should be revived around the country and integrated with mid-day meal schemes. It is recommended that minimum quality norms for mid-day meals should apply throughout the country.
The MID-DAY Meal Scheme has been extended to upper primary classes in 3,479 educationally backward blocks. The scheme will now be extended to upper primary classes in Government and Government-Aided Schools in all blocks in the country. This will benefit an additional 2.5 crore children, taking the total number of children covered under the scheme to 13.9 crore.