MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the
Sabha.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (g) of Lok
Sabha Starred Question No. 184 for 10.03.2010 by Shri S.
Pakkirappa and Shrimati Jayshreeben Patel regarding Mid-Day
Meal Scheme.
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): Under the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), the Government
has fixed 450 calories and 12 grams of protein intake for
primary (classes I-V) and 700 calories and 20 grams of
protein intake for upper primary (classes VI-VIII) children.
The energy and protein requirement is met through food
cooked from 100 gms of rice/wheat, 20 gms of pulses, 50 gms
of vegetables and 5 gms of edible oil for primary children
and 150 gms of rice/wheat, 30 gms of pulses, 75 gms of
vegetables and 7.5 gms of edible oil for upper primary
children.
(c) & (d): The Government has made elaborate arrangements
through MDMS guidelines to ensure that children get good
quality meal to their satisfaction. The food is tasted by 2-
3 adults, including at least one teacher, before it is
served to children. Representatives of Gram Panchayats/Gram
Sabhas, members of Village Education Committees (VECs),
Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), School Management &
Development Committees (SMDCs) as well as Mothers’
Committees are required to monitor (a) the regularity and
wholesomeness of the mid day meal served to children, (b)
cleanliness in cooking and serving of the mid day meal, (c)
procurement of good quality ingredients, and (d)
implementation of varied menu. Supervisory Officers are
required to inspect about 25% of the schools every quarter.
National/State/District/Block level Steering-cum-Monitoring
Committees are constituted to monitor the implementation of
the scheme. The Central Government monitors the progress of
the scheme through National, Regional and State level
meetings, the Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) and the
Review Missions. Besides, 42 reputed institutions have been
engaged to monitor the implementation of the scheme
independently through field inspection and submit six
monthly reports for remedial action.
(e) & (f): Certain cases of deficiencies/irregularities in
the implementation of the MDMS have come to the notice of
the Government. The details of such cases are given in the
Annexure.
(g): The overall responsibility to ensure all logistic
and administrative arrangements for regular serving of
wholesome, cooked mid day meal lies with the State
Government/UT administration. However, the Central
Government continuously urges the State/UT Governments to
lift only good quality foodgrains from FCI godowns after
joint inspection, store it in dry and safe places, ensure
cooking in a hygienic environment by properly training the
cooks, and ensure strict compliance of the Scheme
guidelines.
