Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Prime Minister POSHAN (PM-POSHAN) scheme, which replaces the existing National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in schools. PM-POSHAN aims to provide a hot cooked meal to students attending government and government-aided schools. The program is set to operate initially for five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme: An Overview
Launched in 1995 under the Ministry of Education, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was considered the world’s largest school meal program, aiming to universalize primary education. This centrally sponsored scheme offered cooked meals to every child between six to fourteen years old studying in classes I to VIII who enrolls and attends the school. If meals were unavailable in schools due to food shortages or other reasons, the State Government pledged to pay a food security allowance by the 15th of the succeeding month.
Key Features of PM POSHAN
PM POSHAN covers 11.8 crore students enrolled in classes 1 to 8 in over 11.2 lakh schools across the country, providing each primary (1-5) and upper primary (6-8) schoolchild with 100 grams and 150 grams of food grains per working day, respectively, to ensure a minimum intake of 700 calories. The scheme will expand to include students studying in pre-primary schools running in government and government-aided primary schools.
Nutritional Gardens and Supplementary Nutrition
The government plans to promote nutritional gardens in schools as a source of additional micro-nutrients for students. The new scheme also provides supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those with high prevalence of anaemia. Unlike before, the Centre now has no restriction on funding only for wheat, rice, pulses and vegetables.
Additional Features of PM POSHAN
The PM POSHAN introduces the Tithi Bhojan concept, a community participation program where special food is provided to children on special occasions or festivals. It also aims to ensure direct benefit transfer from states to schools, covering cooking costs and preventing leakages at district administration levels. A nutrition expert will be appointed in each school to monitor health aspects such as body mass index, weight, and haemoglobin levels.
Social Audit and Fund Sharing
Each school in each state is mandated to conduct a social audit of the scheme to study its implementation. The Centre will shoulder Rs. 54,061 crore of the total estimated cost of Rs 1.3 lakh crore while the states pay Rs 31,733 crore.
Promotion of Local Economy
The scheme promotes the Vocal for Local for Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It encourages local farmers’ producer organizations and women self-help groups to participate in implementing the scheme. Use of locally grown traditional food items will be encouraged for boosting local economic growth.
Challenges to Address: Nutrition and Malnutrition
Though this initiative is commendable, certain challenges need to be addressed. According to the Global Nutrition Report 2020, India is among 88 countries that are likely to miss global nutrition targets by 2025. The Global Hunger Index 2020 ranked India at 94 among 107 countries with a “serious” hunger level. National Family Health Survey-5 reveals worsening child malnutrition levels in several Indian states.
Other Government Initiatives
Alongside PM POSHAN, other government initiatives aiming to combat malnutrition and support health include Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), and Poshan Abhiyaan.
