Mid-Day-Meal Scheme

2-Feb-2022: Introducing millets in Mid-Day Meal Scheme

In order to enhance nutrition among children Central Government requested State Governments/Union Territory Administrations to explore the possibility of introducing millets under PM POSHAN Scheme preferably in the districts where eating millets is a culturally accepted food habit. It is suggested to introduce millets (coarse grains) based menu once a week and also conduct cooking competitions among Cook-cum-Helpers to popularize millet based recipes. It is also suggested to prepare small videos for creating awareness about the goodness of millets and showcase them in schools and consumption of millets may be discussed during the School Management Committees (SMCs) and Parent Teachers Meeting (PTM).

NITI Aayog is also promoting introduction of millets in PM POSHAN Scheme and conducted a national consultation with State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. During consultation best practices on millets from Odisha, Telangana and Karnataka have been shared with other State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.

The Scheme provides for 3 types of food grains i.e. wheat, rice and coarse grains. Food grains are allocated as proposed by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations as per their requirement in Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) and approved by Program Approval Board of the Scheme. The food grains are allocated biannually by the Department of School Education and Literacy with the concurrence of Department of Food and Public Distribution. It is also mentioned that the entire cost of foodgrains is borne by Central Government.

2021

28-May-2021: Government to Provide Monetary Assistance through DBT under MDM Scheme

The Union Minister for Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has approved the proposal to provide monetary assistance to 11.8 Crore students (118 Million Students) through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of the cooking cost component of the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme, to all eligible children, as a special welfare measure. This will give a fillip to the Midday Meal programme. This is in addition to the Government of India’s announcement of distribution of free-of-cost food grains @ 5 Kg per person per month to nearly 80 Crore beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY).

This decision will help safeguard the nutritional levels of children and aid in protecting their immunity during the challenging pandemic times.

The Central Government will provide additional funds of about Rs 1200 crore to State Governments and UT Administrations for this purpose. This onetime special welfare measure of the union Government will benefit about 11.8 crore children studying in class I to VIII in the 11.20 lakh Government and Government aided schools across the country.