(a) whether children in several parts of the country had fallen sick after eating food
provided under Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) during the last few years;
(b) the action taken against the school authorities for serving bad quality food to children;
(c) whether any standards have been prescribed for the quality of food under MDMS;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the reasons for non-compliance of the prescribed criteria?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) & (b): A total number of 930 children were fallen sick after eating food provided
under mid-day meal scheme in the country during the last three years and current year.
The overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious Mid Day Meal to the
eligible children lies with State Governments and UTs Administrations. Respective
State Governments and UT Administrations were requested to furnish Action Taken
Report (ATR) in the matter. As per Action Taken Reports (ATRs) received from States
and 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 by the
concerned State Governments and UT Administrations.
(c) to (e): The Mid-Day Meal Guidelines prescribe the following nutritional content for
improving the quality of mid-day meal :
<pre>
Items For children of Primary classes For children of Upper Primary Classes
A) Nutritional Norms (Per child per day)
Calorie 450 700
Protein 12 gms 20 gms
B) Food Norms (Per child per day)
Food-grains 100 gms 150 gms
Pulses 20 gms 30 gms
Vegetables 50 gms 75 gms
Oil & fat 5 gms 7.5 gms
Salt &
condiments
As per need As per need
<\pre>
The Government of India has issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school level
kitchens to all the States and UTs to address the quality issue. These guidelines inter-alia
provide for instructions to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for
preparation of mid day meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adult members of School Management
Committee 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 by Government recognized laboratories to
ensure that the meals meet nutritional standards and quality. The Government has also
adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District levels to ensure
quality food is served to children under the Scheme.
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