Mid-Day Meal Scheme and its Challenges

1. What is the new name of Mid-Day meal Scheme?

Answer:

The Mid Day Meal Scheme is an Indian school lunch program created to improve the nutritional status of school-age children across the country. The program is currently known by the name POSHAN Scheme.

2. When was the Mid-day Meal Scheme launched?

Answer:

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was launched in India on August 15, 1995, as part of the ‘National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE).’ In October 2007, the NP-NSPE was renamed the ‘National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools,’ also known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Recently, India’s Vice President advocated including milk in children’s mid-day meals.

3. What are the models of implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?

Answer:

It is carried out using one of three models:

• Decentralized model – Meals prepared on-site by local cooks, self-help groups, and so on.
• Centralized model – Instead of local on-site cooks, an external entity makes food and delivers it to schools in this model.
• International aid – A variety of international charitable groups assist government schools.

4. Which ministry launched the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?

Answer:

The scheme was implemented by the Ministry of Education (formerly known as the Ministry of Human Resources and Development).

5. What is PM Poshan Yojana?

Answer:

The Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy sponsors PM POSHAN at the national level. Under this program, students attending government and government-aided schools will receive one hot, home-cooked meal per day.
 

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is an Indian school lunch program created to improve the nutritional status of school-age children across the country. The program is now renamed as POSHAN Scheme. Children in government primary and upper primary schools, government-aided Anganwadis, Madarsa, and Maqtabs receive free lunches on working days as part of the program.

Table of Contents:

• What is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?
• The Goal of the Mid-day Meal Scheme
• Implementation of the Mid-day Meal Scheme
• Features of the Mid-day Meal Scheme
• Challenges of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• Criticism of the Mid-day Meal Scheme
• FAQs on the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and its Challenges