Mid-Day Meal Scheme in India: Evolution and Impact on the Education System

In India’s school education system, the majority of children are enrolled in government and government-aided schools. Most of them come from challenging socio-economic backgrounds where access to nutritious food every day remains uncertain. Hence, implementing child development programmes in schools can create a significant difference.

Understanding this, The Government of India came up with a programme called PM POSHAN (formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme) that aims to reach every child with nutritious mid-day meals. The programme has shown proven improvement in empowering children to study further, achieve the future they dreamt of and thus advancing the nation.

Meals for children today, Empowered nation tomorrow

A Brief Look into the Programme’s Evolution

The Chennai Origin

The roots of India’s school feeding programmes can be traced back to 1925, when the Madras Municipal Corporation introduced a school meal programme at Thousand Lights in Chennai, initially serving just 165 students. The idea gradually expanded to more schools in the region.

By the mid-1980s, a few more states were inspired by the Tamil Nadu model and initiated serving mid-day meals to primary-level children with their own resources.

National Expansion (1995)

On 15 August 1995, the National Programme for Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a centrally sponsored scheme in 2,408 blocks across the country. Under this scheme, dry ration, typically 100 grams of food grains was provided per child per school day through the Food Corporation of India. The objectives were clearly defined:

  • Eliminate classroom hunger
  • Improve school attendance and retention 
  • Meet children’s nutritional demands

Supreme Court Intervention

On 28 November 2001, The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India passed a landmark interim order directing states and Union Territories to provide cooked meals rather than dry rations to all children in government and government-assisted primary schools within six months. This decision laid the foundation for what is widely regarded as the world’s largest school feeding programme.

The central government supported the implementation by providing:

  • Supply of food grains
  • Transportation subsidy
  • Cooking cost assistance
  • Honorarium support for Cook cum Helpers

The phase marked the institutionalisation of mid-day meals as a core component of the Indian education system.

Transition to PM POSHAN (2021 to present)

On 29 September 2021, the cabinet approved the proposal to rechristen the Mid-Day Meal Scheme as Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) and restructured to expand the coverage and ensure holistic nutrition for schoolchildren. The focus is more on:

  • Improving the child’s nutritional level rather than just providing meals
  • Included children in the age group between five and six through Balvatika (pre-primary classes)
  • Nutritional monitoring, including tracking children’s health indicators such as BMI, health and haemoglobin levels. 
  • Inclusion of nutritional gardens in schools.

With this transition, the programme has evolved into a comprehensive effort focused on children’s nutrition, health and educational well-being.

Positive Outcomes of Mid-Day Meals include:

  • Reduced classroom hunger
  • Increased enrolment, attendance and retention
  • Improved academic performance
  • Social equality in classrooms
  • Improved female participation in the workplace

Despite these achievements, implementing the world’s largest school feeding programme continues to present several operational challenges.

A few of the challenges are:

  • Infrastructure gaps
  • Supply chain and funding delays
  • Reaching remote place
  • Timely delivery of meals
  • Maintaining hygiene and monitoring

Role of NGOs in Executing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Addressing these challenges requires collaborative effort from multiple stakeholders. NGOs can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges through operational expertise, technology, infrastructure and community outreach. Organisations such as The Akshaya Patra Foundation work tirelessly to enhance the efficiency of the programme by expanding its reach and ensuring that more children benefit from nutritious meals. 

NGOs contribute in multiple ways:

  • Operating centralised kitchens with food safety standards
  • Last-mile delivery in difficult terrains
  • Incorporating technology to enhance meal preparation and delivery
  • Conducting hygiene and nutrition awareness programmes

Nourish a Child’s Possibility for a Better Life

Nutrition and education are intertwined in children’s well-being. When a child is well-nourished, learning becomes easier, attendance becomes consistent and confidence grows. To nourish them every day, collaboration is the key. Governments, communities and organisations like The Akshaya Patra Foundation continue to work together to ensure every child receives nutritious meals.

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