A STUDY ON THE MID DAY MEAL PROGRAMME

IN DEVELOPING HEALTH INDEX AND SOCIAL

VALUE

ABSTRACT
The present was on the Mid Day Meal programme in developing health
index and social values. For this purpose, data of 75 adolescents from the high
school was collected. The obtained results showed that they are gettingadequate
amount of calories every day. Also mid day meal programme had contributed to
increasing the health index of the students and also social values were developed in
the students.

INTRODUCTION
The Mid Day Meal programmeof the government of India is designed to
improve the nutritional status of school age children national wide.
Theyprogramme supplies free lunches on working day for children in primary and
upper primary classes in government, government aided, local body, education
guarantee scheme, and alternate innovative Abhiyan, and national child labor
project school run by the Ministry of labor serving. 120,000,000 children in over
1,265,000 schools and education Guarantee scheme centers. It is the largest such
programme in the world.

Under Article 24, paragraph 2C of conventions of rights of the child, to

which India is a party, India has committed to providing adequate nutritious
feeds for children. The programme entered the planning stage in 2001 and was
implemented in 2004. The programme has undergone many changes and
amendments since its launch. The government of India initiated the
NtionalProgramme of nutritional support to primary Education (NP-NSPE) on 15
August 1995. The objective of the scheme is to help improve the effectiveness of
primary education by improving the nutritional status of primary children. Initially,
the scheme was implemented in 2.408 blocks of the country to provide food to
students in classes one through five of government , government aided, and local
body run by schools. By 1997-1998 the scheme has be implemented across the
country. Under this programme, a cooked Mid Day meal with 300 calories and
12grams of protein is provided to children enrolled in classes 1 to 5. In October
2007, the scheme included students in upper primary classes of 6 to 8 in 3,479
educationally backward blocks, and the name was changed from National
programme for nutrition Support to Primary Education to National Programmme
for Nutrition Programme of Mid Day Meals in schools.

Through cooked food was to be provided, most states(apart from those

already providing cooked food) choose to provide dry ration refers to provision
of uncooked 3 Kg of wheat or rice to children with 80% attendance.

OBJECTIVES
Improving nutritional status of children on class 1to 7 in government,
government aided, local body, education guarantee scheme, and alternate
innovative Abhiyancentres.
Encouraging poor children belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend
schools more regularly and help this to concentrate on class room activities.
Providing nutritional support to children of primary stage in drought affected
areas during summer vacation.
Promoting school participation.
Preventing classroom hunger.
Facilitating the healthy growth of children.
Intrinsic educational value.
Fostering social equality.
Enhancing gender equality.
Psychological benefits.

HYPOTHESIS
 There is no impact of Mid Day Meal Programme in developing health index.
There is no impact of Mid Day Meal Programme in developing social
values.
There is no impact of MDM Programme on the enrollment of students from
disabled section.
There is no difference among the opinion of students, teachers and parents
towards the impact of MDM Programme on the enrollement of students
from disabled section.

SIGNIFICANCE
The Mid DayMeal scheme has many potential benefits attracting children
from disadvantaged sections, (especially girls, dalits and adivasis) to school,
improving regularity, nutritional benefits, socialization benefits and benefits to
women are some have been highlighted.

Studied by economist show that some these benefits have indeed been
realized. The positive enrollment of disadvantaged children on attendance or
learning effort, on improving nutritional inputs, on improving nutritional
outcomes and so on. The objectives of the programme were to give boost to
universalization of primary education and to impact nutritional intake of
students in primary classes.

It envisages provision of cooked, nutritious mid day meal to primary to

secondary school children. Importantly, it mentions setting up of an appropriate
mechanism for quality checks. Its two objectives of improving health and
education of the poor children of India has been set off.

MID-DAY MEAL PROGRAMME IN KERALA

The mid day meal scheme was first introduced in 1984, in the state of
Kerala in the LP school functioning in 22 villages, having fisherman as the
major inhabitants, during 1985 the scheme was extended to all LP school. The
scheme was extended to UP schools during 87-88. The scheme consist of
supplying cooked food to the children using rice, pulses, and coconut oil.
 Government of India launched the above scheme as a centrally sponsored
one on 15th of August 1995. The centrally sponsored scheme originally covered
the children of primary stage studying in std 1 to 5 in government, government
aided, local body schools. The scheme was further extended to the children
studying in Education Guarantee Scheme and alternate innovative education
centers also in October 2002. During this academic year the scheme was
extended to upper primary section also.

School authorities submit utilization of food grains and stock position to the
Assistant Educational Officer every month 163 AEOs in the state are connected
online and data from the sub district can be accessed from the directorate. For
the implementation of the programme in schools, a committee is constituted
with PTA president as the president and Head master as the member secretary.
Other members of the committee are one member from local self government,
two teachers, one member from mother PTA and MPTA ensures the
transparency of the students participating in MDM scheme every day. The
headmaster also keeps stock register.

The Mid-Day Meal programme is being implemented in the state in agood

manner. However the present system of implementation of the scheme needs
some changes to improve the quality if food and to reduce the burden of
teachers. In order to achieve the above goal it is suggested to start certralised
kitchen in the state.

MID-DAY MEAL PROGRAMMEE OF TAMILNADU

Mid Day Meal scheme popularly called PuratchiThalaivar MGR programme
in Tamil Nadu was launched in primary schools for classes 1 to 5 during 1 st July
1982 and to pre-school children of 2-5 years in rural areas. Subsequently the
scheme was extended to nutrition meal centers in urban area from 5th September
1982. Further extended to school students in the age group 10 to 15 from
September 1984. The students in 1 to 5 standard do receive the meal in all
school working days. The children enrolled under the scheme are provided with
hot cooked, wholesome food within the school campus itself onall weekdays.
 The government of India releases funds in two installments to the state/UTs.
The central assistance is routed through the state finance department which
inturn releases the fund to the Director, Social welfare who releases funds to the
District collector for onward transmission to Noon Meal Organizers through
Block Development officer by e-transfer. The food grains allocated by the
government of India is lifted from the food cooperation of India by the Tamil
Nadu supplies cooperation and stored in the godowns.

DATA COLLECTION
We constructed our study at Rev.Fr.G.M.V.H.S.Skarikode. There is only
secondary section at the school. Teachers and students were very cooperativewith
us. And they were ready to give all the necessary details required for us. We
reached the school during their lunch time. Also we had an interactive section with
teacher and the students.

Foods for the students were prepared within the school compound. sincein Kerala
Mid Day Meal programme is implemented for students of classes 1 to 7, here noon
foods were only given for students at class 7. We could see that leader in each class
collect the food for entire class. All students use their use their tiffin boxes/plates
from the home to have their lunch. All students are provided sufficient amount of
food and we could see that they are not wasting food materials. And the food was
served in the classroom itself.

On that day students were given rice together with cabbage curry and curd. Also
a variety of curries such as pea, sambar etc.are provided with rice. Students said
that they are getting milk and egg in 2 days every week. Occasionally meat is also
provided. During special occasions like Onamsadhya was provided for the entire
student community. One of the important and interesting that we could observe
there was the bio-farm. Students are cultivating and maintaining different kinds of
vegetables within school compound. These vegetables are used for cooking. Hence
the cost of implementing Mid-Day Meal programme is reduced and importantly
students were getting healthy food materials that are free from pesticides or
insecticides etc. We could see that feeling of brotherhood, sharing mentality, moral
values etc. are developing between them. Also by providing same kind of food
material for all students feeling of equality is maintained. During the interaction
with the students we are able to find that they are all happy with the mid-Day Meal
programme.

We also have an interaction section with the Head master and the teachers of the
school. They are providing mid day meal for 75 students. For proper
implementation Rs.5/- per head per day is required. And a total of one lakh is
required for one year. Health data of the students are maintained in the school.
Physical growth of the students is observed regularly. From the records provided
by the school authorities we could observe a steady growth of students.

THE NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE MINIMUM

AMOUNT OF FOOD AND CALORIE CONTENT PER CHILD
PER DAY ARE
Entitlement norm per child per day under mid-day meal
Items Primary(1-5) Upper-primary(6-8)
Calories 450 700
Protein(in grams) 12 20
Rice/wheat(in grams) 100 150
Dal (in grams) 20 30
Vegetable(in grams) 50 75
Oil and fat (in gram) 5 7.5

BODY MASS INDEX OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDER

MID-DAY MEAL PROGRAMME

Body mass Index (BMI) was calculated by using the following equation given
by Garrow(1981).

BMI =WEIGHT ( HEIGHT ) 2

The weight, height and the BMI were determined for Z scores using Who Global
Database on child growth and malnutrition (WHO, 2007).

The children were classified into normal (-.99 to 1 SD), under nourished
(<-2 SD) and overweight/ obesity(>1SD) categories based on their weight for
age(WAZ) and height for age (HAZ). Similarly, based on their BMI Zseries, the
children were classified into the following categories.

Severely under nourished <-3Sd

Moderately under nourished -2.99 to 2 SD
Mildly under nourished _1.99 to 1SD
Normal -.99 to 1SD
Over-weight/ obese >-1SD

In the case of micro nutrients (Vitamin A, Iron and Folate) tablets and de-warming
medicines, the students is entitled to receive the amount provided for in the school
health programme of the National rural Health Mission.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE TO

MONITOR THE MID DAY MEAL PROGRAMME
Level Committee Frequency of
meeting
National The national level steering committee. Quarterly
Programme Approval Board(APB)
State The State Level Steering Monitoring Quarterly
Committee
District The District level Committee Monthly
Municipality The Municipal Committee Monthly
Block The Mandal Level Committee Fortnightly
Village Pachayath Level Sub- Committee Day to Day function
School School management and PTA Monthly and as
when it is required.
CONCLUSION
The Mid-Day meal programme is being implemented in the state in a good
manner. This scheme has many potential benefits like attracting students from
disadvantaged sections to school, improving regularity, nutritional benefits, social
benefits, benefits to women, positive effect on enrollment of disadvantaged
children on attendance. Media reports also documents the positive effect of the
programme for women, especially working women and its popularity among
parents, children and teachers. At the same time media reports have also
highlighted several implementation issues including irregularity, corruption,
hygiene, caste discrimination etc. Even though there are some drawbacks in the
implementation of Mid-Day Meal Programme, it can be said that it is one of the
best programme that the government introduced for the improvement of literacy
and health in India.

EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
It suggest teachers that they should be aware about the distribution of Mid
Day Meal during lunch hours systematically and properly so that time of
studies is not being wasted.
It supports parents in school for improving the quality of food which is
served in school.
It helps the planners to start new strategies to increase enrollment of studies.

QUESTIONNAIRE
 1. How many children are studying here?
2. How many of them are participating in the mid day meal programme
providing in this school?
3. Do you provide variety of food items?
4. What type of vitamins and minerals are included in the mid day meal?
5. Does this school has a vegetable garden? If yes, do you include the
vegetables in it in the mid day meal?
6. How many kitchen staffs are the in this school for preparing the mid day
meal?
7. At what time is the food being given?
8. Do all children sit together while having meals?
9. Do the children have a positive social interaction while eating together?
10.Do you take any preventive measures to avoid food poisoning?
11.How much fund has been allocated for the mid day meal programmee?
12.What is the per head expense for the mid day meal programme?
13.Do you provide awareness classes for children and parents on health and
health related problems?
14.Does everyone participate actively in such awareness classes?
15.What is the attitude of the parents towards this mi day meal programme?
16.Do you provide special care for children who are physically challenged?
17.Do you provide any type of whole grains to adolescent girls?
18.Does this programme help in decreasing wastage and stagnation in this
school?
19.Does the growth rate of the children are checked and recorded periodically?
20.Is there any change in the growth and development of the children?

REFERENCE

Journal of educational and psychological research.

www.akshayapatra.org
 www.childlineindia.org
www.downtoearth.org.in
www.educationforallindia.com
www.snehabhavanktm.org
www.mdm.nic.in