Role of Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Education

Dr Anita modi

Kurukshetra

September 2013

In the same way, National Programme

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.
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Kurukshetra

September 2013

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

Kurukshetra

September 2013

[The author is Lecturer in Economics

Government
College
Khetri
Jhunjhunu
Rajasthan]
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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.