Mid Day Meal programme in different schools all over the nation has been a flagship Scheme by the Indian government, which was launched in 1995. The Mid Day Meal scheme, which is covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013 has been instrumental in fighting serious issues like drop out of school going children.
In fact, the Mid Day Meal Scheme has rejuvenated enrolment in government schools and truly it has remained the focus in the last decades. But there are issues concerning the Mid Day Meal scheme, which needs to address asap. In this regard, the central government is reviewing the scheme considering various components associated with it.
There is no denying the fact that suggestions have come up regarding the Mid Day Meal scheme. The costs of gas cylinders have shot up. Overall, the grant for per student hasn’t increased that much and in some states, it has become very difficult to continue the scheme. Let’s not forget that the central.
The government doesn’t pay the full amount of the scheme. Side by side, there are other concerns like cooking cost, transportation assistance, management monitoring, evaluation expenses and others. Also, there is definitely the issue of thinking or not on giving equal importance to urban and rural segments.
Some state governments, especially those ruled by non-BJP parties have called for the review in important aspects like coverage of children, fund flow from state to schools, implementing agencies and others.
The Modi Government is going to present the last budget in its tenure. With back to back defeats in some of the states, it is absolutely clear to BJP that they need to give more emphasis to the rural belt.
The Mid Day Meal scheme is very important in this regard and the whole system of it is actually integral to the local economy. In the last few years, there have been discussions on whether the scheme has been successful in providing nutritional benefits to the marginal children including socialization benefits.
The state-center bridge divide is also another thing that needs to be addressed. Thus there are expectations from the Modi Government as Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has informed the Rajya Sabha.
