MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. During 2011-12, 10.54 Crore children studying in 12.37 lakhs Instutions availed of the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS). The MDMS norms provide for a nutritious hot cooked meal prepared from 100gms of food grains (rice/ wheat), 20gms of pulses, 50 gms of vegetables and 5 gms of oil to ensure an energy content of 450 calories and 12 grams of proteins for children studying in primary classes. At the upper primary level the entitlement goes up to 150 gms of food grains (rice/wheat),30 gms of pulses, 75gms of vegetables and 7.5 gms of oil to ensure an energy content of 700 calories and 20 grams of proteins.
(c) & (d) The Independent Monitoring Institutes engaged to monitor the Mid Day Meal Scheme observed discrimination in some districts in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Gujarat and Karnataka in the provision of the mid day meal. Central teams were deputed in the 2nd week of August 2012 to these States to investigate into the matter. The teams did find caste-based discrimination in one school in district Boudh in Odisha. The matter was taken up by this Ministry with the Government of Odisha for taking immediate remedial action.The State Government placed the Headmaster of the school under suspension and initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Sub-Inspector of Schools. The District Administration has been instructed by the State Government to ensure social equity in all the schools.
(e) & (f) The Mid Day Meal Scheme is refined from time to time to improve its effectiveness. The cooking cost has been revised every year by 7.5% in the last three years; a provision for the payment of a honorarium @ 1000/- per month to cook-cum-helpers has been introduced and transportation assistance in the 11 Special Category States is being paid at par with the PDS rates prevalent in these States. The payment for cost of foodgrains to the FCI has been decentralized to the District level to ensure grater control over supply of foodgrains with the district level authorities.
A web enabled MIS portal for the MDM Scheme has been launched and States / UTs have fed annual data for about 11.24 lakh out of 11.36 schools, in the portal. The portal would be integrated with IVRS to facilitate monitoring of the Mid Day Meal Scheme on a real time basis.
