(a) whether the Government has renamed Mid Day Meal Scheme as Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme;
(b) if so, the additional difference and benefits likely to accrue in the said scheme with the change of the name thereof;
(c) whether there is any proposal to cover more number of children in addition to the 12 crore children of 11 lakh government schools under the said scheme to address the problem of malnutrition; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 250 for 21.03.2022 raised by Shri Satyadev Pachauri, Hon’ble MP regarding PM Poshan Yojana.
(a) to (d): Government has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN)’ earlier known as ‘National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools’ for providing hot cooked meal to eligible children in Government and Government – aided Schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Government has also approved following additional features under PM POSHAN Scheme in order to address the problem of malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of eligible children:
(i) Inclusion of Balvatika: The provision of hot cooked meal to children of pre-schools or Balvatika (before class I) in primary schools also, in addition to the 11.80 crore children of classes I to VIII studying in 11.20 lakh Government and Government-aided schools.
(ii) Tithi Bhojan: Tithi Bhojan is a community participation programme in which people provide special food to children on special occasions/festivals in addition to regular meal.
(iii) School Nutrition Gardens: Under the Scheme, development of School Nutrition Gardens in schools is being promoted, to give children first hand experience with nature and gardening.
(iv) Social Audit: Social Audit in all districts is made mandatory under the Scheme. Social Audit is collective monitoring of a scheme by people’s active involvement covering issues of equity, equality and expenditure management.
(v) Vocal for local: Under ‘Vocal for local’ States and Union Territory Administrations are encouraged to decide menu suitable to the local conditions within the prescribed nutrition and food norms and to procure locally grown food items like millets, vegetables, condiments etc. from Farmers’ Producers Organizations, Federation of Women’s Self-Help Groups etc. so as to promote local employment generation and economic development while simultaneously improving the nutrition standards.
(vi) Special Focus: Adequate provision for supplementary nutrition in aspirational districts / tribal districts / districts with identified high cases of malnutrition etc.
(vii) Disaster Management: Provision of hot cooked meal or Food Security Allowance to children when schools are closed due to a disaster impacting the State/Union Territory, part of State/Union Territory, some States/Union Territory or whole country as maybe declared by the State/Central Government under its powers as Disaster Management Authority.
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