Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)

Launched in 1995, since 2008-09 have been implemented in India in govt. run and govt. aided primary and upper primary schools In 2012-13, 104 million students were covered Aim to provide not just cooked meal but satisfying prescribed nutritional requirements Green leafy vegetables should be added as per latest guidelines, to take care of Iron needs Nutritional Provisions- for primary school students, 450 calorie/meal,12 gm protein, 100 gm grain (wheat/rice), 50 gm vegetables,5 gm oil, 20 gm pulse. For upper primary school students, 700 calorie/meal, 20 gm protein, 150 gm grains, 75 gm vegetables, 30 gm pulses, 7.5 gm oil. Apart from these green leafy vegetables and double fortified salt Reality check- cooked meal is extra watery, most of the students find it tasteless, nutrient content is much low than prescribed limit (rule- if difference is more than 5% then fine to be paid) Reasons given by NGOs involved in cooking- High inflation and rise in cost of cooking How NGOs make money- selling extra grain, not cooking remaining grain, fudging attendance record, degrading quality of grain

Conclusion: Attention need to be given as nutrient content is very less than the prescribed limit. Cost of cooking is insufficient because of high inflation and whatever is left is siphoned off.