Question : Substandard Food under Mid Day Meal Scheme

(a) whether the Government is aware about the allegations of substandard quality of food,
discrepancies in rates and favouritism towards certain contractors in the mid day meal
programme for school children and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has inquired about the matter and if so, the findings thereof and
the action taken thereon;
(c) whether the Government proposes to make Aadhaar Card mandatory for the students to
avail mid day meals and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has made any assessment about the number of school children
who have Aadhaar cards and if so, the details thereof and the reasons for making it
mandatory for mid day meal and the reaction received from the State Government;
(e) whether it is a fact that present rate of Aadhaar card Enrolment of students in primary
schools in States is very low and if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the
enrolment; and
(f) the details of the steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure no
student be denied mid day meal only because of not having Aadhaar card?

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) & (b): This Ministry has not received any complaint regarding discrepancies in rates and
favouritism towards contractors in Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS). However, a total number
of 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 up 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.
(c) to (f): Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) is covered under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of
Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. A notification has been
published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) dated 28th February, 2017 which came into
effect in all States and Union Territories except in the States of Assam, Meghalaya and the State
of Jammu & Kashmir. As per the notification, the beneficiaries are required to furnish proof of
possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentification and, if not enrolled for
Aadhaar, shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment by 30th June, 2017 (the time limit is later
extended upto 31st August, 2017) provided that till the time Aadhaar is assigned to the
individual, he/she shall be entitled for benefit subject to the production of the following
identification documents, namely:
(i) If he or she has enrolled, his or her Aadhaar Enrolment Id slip; or
(ii) A copy of his or her application made for Aadhaar Enrolment and an undertaking by the
parent or legal guardian that the child is not availing benefit from any other school and
any one of the documents mentioned in the notification.
As for information reported by States/UTs, so far 7,37,124,64 (60%) students have Aadhaar
number against total number of 12,26,19,883 enrolled children in Elementary Level (Classes 1st –
8th ). All the States/UTs have been requested to take adequate steps for Aadhaar enrollment and
ensure 100% enrollment within the stipulated timeline. A Workshop has also been conducted for
all States/UTs along with experts from UIDAI in the matter.
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