Question : MID DAY MEAL SCHEME

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any scheme for construction of kitchen cum-store under the mid-day meal programme in the schools and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government also proposes to give financial assistance for purchase of kitchen utensils of cooking the mid-day meal in the schools and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the transportation charges for transporting food- grains allotted for mid-day meal from Food Corpo- ration of India (FCI) godown to civil supplies stores considering the hike by transporters; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a): The Central Government provides funds for construction of kitchen-cum-stores on the basis of plinth area norms and State Schedule of Rates in the ratios of 75:25 for non-NER States and 90:10 for NER States. The plinth area norm is 20 sq. meters for enrolment of 100 children in a school and 4 sq. meter area would be added for addition of every 100 students. The Central Gove- rnment has released Rs. 531.37 crore in 2013-14 and Rs. 2.93 crore in the current financial year for the purpose.

(b): The Central Government provides assistance for provisioning and replacement of kitchen devices at an average cost of Rs. 5,000 per school since 2006-07.

(c)&(d): The Central Government provides 100% Central Assistance for transportation of foodgrains from FCI Depot to schools at a cost of Rs. 75 per quintal for 25 States excluding 11 special category States (8 NER + 3 hilly States i.e. J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Utta- rakhand). The norms of transportation assistance for special category States are at par with PDS rates prevalent in these States.