On 15th August 1995, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a view to enhancing enrollment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children. It is a scheme operating under the National Programme for Nutrition Support to Primary Education.

The objectives of the mid day meal scheme are: improving the nutritional status of children in classes I to VIII in Government, Local Body and Government aided schools, and EGS and AIE centres. Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities; providing nutritional support to children of primary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.

In October 2007, the scheme was revised to cover children in upper primary (classes VI to VIII) in 3479 Educationally Backwards Blocks (EBBs). Around 1.7 crore upper primary children were included by this expansion of the scheme.

The Central assistance under this scheme consists of free supply of food grains at the rate of 100 grams per child per school day, where cooked/processed hot meal is being served with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 gms of protein each day of school for a minimum of 200 days and 3 kgs per student per month for 9-11 months in a year, where foodgrains are distributed in raw form. A subsidy for transportation of food grains up to a maximum of Rs 50 per quintal is also provided.

To achieve the desired objectives a cooked mid day meal with the following nutritional content is provided to all eligible children. At upper primary stage, the calorific value has been fixed at a minimum of 700 calories and 20 grams of protein by providing 150 grams of food grains (rice/wheat) per child/school day. At the lower primary stage, the calorific value has been fixed at a minimum of 450 calories and 12 grams of protein per child. Adequate amounts of micronutrients need to be provided as well.

Lower and Upper Primary School Children (I-VIII). EGS & AIE centres.

Contact

Ministry of Human Resource Development
Government of India
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Tele 91-11-23383936
Fax 91-11-23381355