The Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) was launched in 1995 with the objectives of universalizing primary education, increasing enrollment, attendance and retention of students, and improving student nutrition. Studies show the scheme has positively impacted enrollment, retention, attendance, and the nutritional status of children, especially girls. However, implementation challenges remain, including a lack of infrastructure like kitchens and stores, diversion of teacher time, and corruption. Ensuring timely funding, infrastructure, quality control, and stakeholder participation are needed to realize the scheme's potential.
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) was launched in 1995 with the objectives of universalizing primary education, increasing enrollment, attendance and retention of students, and improving student nutrition. Studies show the scheme has positively impacted enrollment, retention, attendance, and the nutritional status of children, especially girls. However, implementation challenges remain, including a lack of infrastructure like kitchens and stores, diversion of teacher time, and corruption. Ensuring timely funding, infrastructure, quality control, and stakeholder participation are needed to realize the scheme's potential.
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) was launched in 1995 with the objectives of universalizing primary education, increasing enrollment, attendance and retention of students, and improving student nutrition. Studies show the scheme has positively impacted enrollment, retention, attendance, and the nutritional status of children, especially girls. However, implementation challenges remain, including a lack of infrastructure like kitchens and stores, diversion of teacher time, and corruption. Ensuring timely funding, infrastructure, quality control, and stakeholder participation are needed to realize the scheme's potential.
of Nutritional Support for Primary Education which is popularly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was launched by the Government of India in 1995. The main objective of the MDMS is to attain the goal of universalization of primary education. To achieve this objective, emphasis is laid on increasing the enrolment, attendance and retention of children in primary classes. Simultaneously, the aim of this scheme is to improve the nutritional status of these students. It is a known fact that many children of poor and backward families reach school on empty stomach. It is not possible them to concentrate on studies
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o attain the goal of universal primary
education, many schemes have been launched by the Central Government in partnership with the states. The 93 rd amendment of constitution has made free and compulsory education as a Fundamental Right for all children in the age group of 6-14 years. India is also a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals. According to this MDG, India has to achieve the goal of universal elementary education by the year 2015.Many schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Literacy Mission and Operation Black Board have been started to achieve this goal.
with empty stomach. Mid Day Meal scheme aims
to overcome the problem of classroom hunger which is a major obstacle in the path of effective and efficient education system .This scheme is also contributing to narrow down the gender and social distances in the society. The goals of social equity and genders equity are being realized with the help of MDMS. Many studies conducted to analysis the impact of MDMS on enrolment, attendance, retention and nutritional status of children found that cooked mid-day meal has become an integral part of the school-life. This scheme has had positive impact on students enrolment, retention and attendance. Most of the children and parents expressed their satisfaction on the implementation of MDMS. According to the parents of children the education, health and nutrition of their children have improved because of MDMS.
schools suffer from the unavailability and poor
functional condition of kitchen sheds and store rooms. In many studies, it has also been observed that because of this scheme, the attention of teachers and students have diverted towards meal related activities and thus resulting in the loss of studies. The teachers have to spend considerable time and energy for the implementation of this scheme therefore time span of teaching and quality of teaching are affected adversely. In the same way the conversion costs is found to be inadequate for preparing the meal. A study by National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, Indore in Madhya Pradesh also supported the fact that MDMS has resulted in increased school attendance, retention and reduction in dropout rates, especially of girls. The academic performance of children has also improved.
According to different surveys conducted,
MDMS is proving a blessing for In the field survey conducted Mid Day Meal scheme the children by providing them by the Centre for Equity Studies aims to overcome the nutritious meal at schools. Mid(CES) in Rajasthan, Karnataka and problem of classroom Day Meal Scheme has helped to Chhattisgarh, it is found that in 76 hunger which is a avert an intensification of child schools out of 81 schools, midmajor obstacle in the under nutrition in many draughtday meal were being provided path of effective and affected areas of Shekhawati regularly. It is also noted that efficient education Region of Rajasthan. Planning Class I enrolment has increased system Commission has also thrown light by 15 percent in the three states on this fact that MDMS has catered combined between the 2001-02 to the nutritional needs of low income groups of and 2002-03 academic years. The study done by both rural and urban areas. professor AmartyaSens Pratichi Research Team MDMS has been successful in cultivating good in West Bengal also shows that Mid-Day Meal habits like washing hands before and after meals has increased the enrollment and attendance of and in educating them about the importance children in schools. The increase has been more of clean water, good hygienic environment and rapid with respect to girls and children belonging other related matters. By breaking the shackles to SC/ST categories. of caste, creed and class among the children, A survey conducted by CUTS in Chittorgarh MDMS is also fostering egalitarian values among district of Rajasthan also highlights that most of the children. MDMS has fostered the feeling schools lack kitchens and food grain storerooms of co-operation, sharing, co-ordination and so more funds need to be allotted to provide fraternity, thereby, leading the development of these facilities. Planning Commission also throws children emotionally and socially also. Because light on this fact that except for Tamilnadu and of the implementation of MDMS, the children are Kerala, in rest of the states, majority of sample feeling them more relaxed, stress free and secure. 18 18
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Thus, psychological development of children is
also ensured.
Recently, the death of 23 children due to
poisonous food served to them under MDMS has put a question mark on this scheme. No doubt, Despite all these achievements, there MDMS is good in itself but the problem lies in its are many problems in the implementation of implementation. To make MDMS more effective this scheme. A major drawback found in this and successful, it is urgently required to ensure scheme is that the teachers have to spend 2 to timely transfer of funds and food grains in schools. 3 hours for the implementation of this scheme. The quality of food grains delivered to schools Because of the involvement of the teachers and cooked meal must be checked regularly and in the scheme, the study time of students and all complaints regarding the quality and quantity quality of education suffer. Different surveys also of food grains and meal must be solved urgently. revealed the fact that in most of schools, the In the same way, basic infrastructure like hi-tech basic infrastructure for preparing meal was not kitchens, store rooms, water supply should be available as per requirements. Somel schools lack provided to all schools by the Government. No proper kitchens, store rooms and source of clean plan can succeed without the active involvement water supply which affect the quality of meal of teachers, parents and local authorities. So, adversely. Sometimes, the non-availability of the active involvement, attention and interest wheat, rice and gas cylinder in time also hinders of all these stake holders are essential for the the smooth process of this scheme. success of this scheme. Nongovernmental The number of students in most of the organizations, local youth and government primary schools in active social workers can also play rural areas is meager so that the It is to be noted that a significant role in this scheme. MDMS of the country is effectiveness of this scheme is It should also be observed that the biggest programme also at stake. The availability of quality of education and timeof the world and every easy and good transportation span of teaching should not effort must be done system managed by the private suffer any cost. It is to be noted to make this scheme schools has adversely affected that MDMS of the country is the successful the number of students in biggest programme of the world government schools. It is also and every effort must be done noticed during the visits to to make this scheme successful. It is also found schools that the active participation of parents, that corruption hinders the path of success of panchayats, and local authorities was negligible this programme, so stern actions must be taken in this scheme. In the same way Parent Teacher to eradicate the seeds of corruption from this Association are also playing a marginal role in scheme. It is possible for the country to achieve monitoring and implementing this scheme. The the objective of universalization of education report of Planning Commission in May 2010 on by proper and effective implementation of Performance Evaluation of Cooked Mid-Day Meal MDMS. By educating every child of the county it Scheme (CMDM) also indicates that a majority of becomes possible to rule out the differences of sample schools in Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, rural India and urban India and to realize the Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka concept of inclusive growth. denied the involvement of Gram Panchayats in the
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[The author is Lecturer in Economics
Government College Khetri Jhunjhunu Rajasthan] 19
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scheme. It is also reported that due to long supply
chain, food grain supplied got adulterated and pilfered which is to be corrected immediately.
National Seminar on “Implementation of Competition Law in India: Issues, Challenges & Strategies” is being organized on 16th November, 2019 (Saturday) by The Faculty of Law, Baba Mast Nath University, Asthal Bohar, Rohtak