Question : Complaints Relating to Mid Day Meal Scheme

(a) whether the Government proposes to review its Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) to address the
increasing complaints of unhygienic and poor food quality served to the students under the scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such complaints received by the Government
during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise;
(c) whether there is a gap reported between sanctioned and utilized funds under the said scheme during
the said period;
(d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor along with the number of cases of
irregularities/ corruption reported in implementation of the scheme across the country during the said
period and the remedial action taken in such cases, State/UT-wise; and
(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to curb malpractices in MDMS and to
ensure the quality of food served ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) & (b): Under Mid Day Meal Scheme, hot cooked meals are provided to 9.78 crore children in 11.43 lakh
institutions on an average basis on every working day of the school during the year 2016-17. Despite this
scale of operations, only 113 complaints on substandard quality of food served to the children were reported
from various States and Union Territories during the last three years and the current year. Respective State
Governments/UT Administrations were requested to furnish Action Taken Report (ATR) in the matter. As
per ATRs received from
States/UTs, action such as issuing warning against the official responsible, terminating the contract of
concerned NGOs/Organisations, initiating criminal proceedings and imposing penalties against the
defaulting persons/organisations have been taken by the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations.
The State/UT-wise details of complaints on substandard quality of food served to the children and action
taken thereon during each of the last three years and the current year is given at Annexure-I.
(c) & (d): The State/UT-wise details of funds sanctioned and utilized during the last 3 years is given at
Annexure-II. The unutilized amount of funds in a particular financial year is adjusted against fresh release
of grant in next financial year. The State/UT-wise details of complaints on irregularities / corruption
reported in implementation of the scheme and action taken thereon during each of the last three years and
the current year is given at Annexure-III.
(e): The Government has adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District levels to
curb malpractices and to ensure the quality of food served under the scheme. At national level, an
Empowered Committee, headed by Minister of HRD, a National level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee
(NSMC) and Programme Approval Board (PAB), both headed by Secretary (School Education & Literacy),
evaluate the performance of each State and UT in implementation of the Scheme and suggest measures for
its smooth and effective implementation, which is a continuous process. At the State level, a State level
Steering–cum-Monitoring Committee headed by the State Chief Secretary and, at District Level, a District
Level Committee under the Chairpersonship of the senior-most Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha of the
district monitors the implementation of the scheme in the concerned District. At local level Gram
Panchayats/Gram Sabhas, members of Village Education Committees (VECs), Parent-Teacher Associations
(PTAs) and the School Management Committees (SMCs) are required to monitor the regularity and
wholesomeness of the mid-day meal served to children, cleanliness in cooking and serving of the meal,
timeliness in procurement of good quality ingredients, fuel, etc., implementation of variety in menu so as to
make it attractive to children and ensuring social and gender equity on daily basis. In addition, the Centre
constitutes Joint Review Missions (JRMs) consisting of educational and nutritional experts, which review
the scheme through field visits from time to time. The reports of JRMs are shared with concerned
States/UTs for taking corrective action on the findings.
***