Mid Day Meal: Morning snacks at government schools
New Delhi, 4 January 2021: On 15th August 1995, the ‘National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NPNSPE)’ was launched in India. It aimed to enhance enrolment, attendance, retention and simultaneously improve the nutritional status of children.
Later in 2008-09, the project was renamed as ‘National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools,’ popularly known as Mid-Day Meal. It covered all school children studying in I – VIII classes in Government and Government-aided schools, Special Training Centres (STCs), and Madrasas & Maktabs supported under Samagra Shiksha. Again the scheme has been revised under the new education policy 2020. Now, along with the afternoon meal, schools will serve morning snacks to the students.
According to the policy, school children will be given a ready-to-eat breakfast full of nutrients as soon as they reach school, but there will be no such thing as biscuits made from branded companies. Instead, material prepared from voluntary institutions and women’s groups will be served. However, the plan is yet to get approval from the government.
The scheme will first focus on the districts which are facing malnutrition issues. However, no decision has been taken regarding which districts of these states will be included. According to a NITI Aayog report, about a hundred districts of the country are most affected by malnutrition. Among these, UP, Bihar, and Rajasthan have the highest number of districts.
The scheme will cost about ten thousand crores every year. The cost will be shared by both the centre and the state. According to sources, soon, it will be placed before the cabinet for approval. Also, it may get announced in the upcoming budget as well.
