Question : Mid Day Meal Scheme

(a) whether the Government proposes to convert Mid Day Meal Scheme(MDMS) from mere entitlement to rights of the children and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which MDM Scheme is likely to be converted into the rights of the children;

(b) the number of children presently availing MDMS facility in the country, State-wise;

(c) the number of reported cases of serving contaminated/sub-standard food under MDMS across the country during the last three years and current year, State/UT-wise and the action taken by the Government therein;

(d) the details of the mechanism put in place by the Government to check the nutritional value of the food served under the said scheme; and

(e) whether the Government has received any report that mid day meals are not served in many schools as prescribed by the Government and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) The Ministry has notified Mid Day Meal Rules 2015 under Section 39 (1) of the National Food Security Act 2013. These Rules mandate that hot cooked mid day meals in the schools shall be provided to all students studying in classes I to VIII who enroll and attend the school free of charge every day except on school holidays. The rules also provide for food security allowance to be paid to children in case of failure to provide meals for specified reasons.

(b) The State-wise number of children who availed mid day meals during 2014-15 is at Annexure-I.

(c) Details of State/UT wise number of reported cases of contaminated/sub-standard food under MDMS during the last three years and the current year and the action taken by the Government are at Annexure-II.

(d) Government of India has issued updated guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene for school level kitchens to all the States / UTs on 13thFebruary, 2015. These guidelines inter alia provide for instruction to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of mid day meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adults members including at least one teacher before serving to children and to put in place a system of testing of food samples by accredited laboratories. Further, the MDM Rules 2015 provide for mandatory testing of food samples on a monthly basis by Government recognized laboratories to ensure that the meals meet with nutritional standards and quality.

(e) Details of State-wise and year-wise cases regarding sub-standard quality of meals served to the children and action taken thereon are at Annexure-II.

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