Government of India incurs more than Rs 17,600 crore in the scheme including the subsidy of about Rs.7,600 crore on food grains.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the revision of norms under mid-day Meal Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 12,054 Crore for 2019-20 in addition to the subsidy of about Rs. 8,000 crore borne by Department of Food & Public Distribution.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes I-VIII of Government, Government-Aided Schools. The scheme covers more than 12 crore children studying in 11.4 lakh schools across the country.
Government of India incurs more than Rs 17,600 crore in the scheme including the subsidy of about Rs.7,600 crore on food grains.
The average per meal cost borne by Central Government is Rs 6.64 and Rs. 9.59 for students of primary and upper primary classes, respectively.
The following revised norms and inclusion of new components would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme:
- Rs 50 crore have been allocated for fortification of food items in a systematic manner. This will address the problems of anaemia and other micro nutrient deficiencies.
- Annual increase in Cooking cost linked to Inflation Index. This year Cooking cost is enhanced to Rs. 4.35 and Rs. 6.51 per child per school day, thus Cooking cost is enhanced by Rs 361 crore. This will offset the impact of inflation on the food items under Mid Day Meal Scheme.
- The assistance for kitchen devices has been enhanced from flat rate of Rs 5,000 per school to Rs 10,000 – Rs 25,000 based on enrolment. This would enable the schools for procuring / replacing adequate kitchen devices.
- A new component of Rs 10,000 per kitchen for repair of more than 10 year old kitchen has been introduced.
- Use of Pulses from buffer stock -The States and UTs may procure pulses as per their local taste for the Mid-Day Meal from the Central buffer stock created by the Government of India.