MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SH.PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 379
for 12.12.2016 raised by Shri Sanjay Dhotre and Dr. Satyapal Singh regarding Mid-
Day Meal Scheme.
(a) & (b): The Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
implemented in partnership with the States/UTs. The overall responsibility for providing
cooked and nutritious mid-day meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments
and Union Territory Administrations. Apart from school-based kitchens, the MDM guidelines
provide for Centralized kitchens run by NGOs for urban areas where there is space constraint.
As per information available, the total number of schools covered by NGOs under Mid-Day
Meal Scheme is 42383 which is 3.68 % of the total number of schools (11.50 lakh) covered
under the scheme. The State/UT-wise number of schools covered by NGOs is given at
Annexure-I.
(c): The Government has adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and
District levels to check quality, safety and hygiene of mid-day meals and also to monitor the
functioning of NGOs. 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. 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 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, member of Village Education Committees
(VECs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), 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 a 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.
(d) & (e): The States/UTs-wise details of cases of deficiency of services or poor quality of
food on part of NGOs during the last three years and current year and the action taken/being
taken thereon by the concerned State Governments are given at Annexure-II.
Download PDF Files
