(a) whether the Government is aware that despite 7.5% annual increase in the cooking costs
under the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), most schools are unable to meet the expenses
for nutritious food for children and often rely on the personal contributions of
teachers/principals, including schools in the State of Kerala and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Minister is aware that the erstwhile Planning Commission had allocated an
outlay of Rs. 90,155 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan for the MDMS but only about Rs.
44,000 has been released during the plan period (till April, 2016), and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) if so, whether the Government would consider increasing the cooking costs under the
MDMS from Rs. 3.86 per child per day for primary stage and Rs. 5.78 per child per day
for upper primary stage to provide quality and nutritious food; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SH.PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a): The Mid Day Meal Scheme is implemented in partnership with States/UTs. As per the Scheme, the Central Government provides food grains at the rate of 100 gms per day per child for primary and 150 gms for upper primary children to the States at subsidized rates. The entire cost of food grains is borne by the Central Government. The funding for cooking cost which includes the cost of vegetables, pulses, oil, condiments and fuel is shared with the States/UTs in the ratio of 90:10 for NER States and 3 Himalayan States, 100% for UTs and 60:40 for all other States. Besides, Central Assistance is also provided for honorarium of cook-cum-helpers, transportation of food grains and monitoring & evaluation expenses. Several States/UTs are contributing additional funds for additional food items in the menu as well as for honorarium of cook-cum-helpers.
(b): The Planning Commission had allocated Rs.90, 155 crore for implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme during the 12th Plan. The year wise details of funds allocated in the budget and funds released to States/UTs upto 2015-16 are as under:-
<pre>
Rs. in Crore)
Year Funds allocated Funds released
2012-13 11937.00 10867.90
2013-14 13215.00 10927.21
2014-15 13215.00 10526.97
2015-16 9236.40 9151.55
</pre>
A sum of ` 9700.00 crore has been allocated in the budget for 2016-17for Mid Day Meal Scheme. The decrease in fund releases from 2015-16 onwards is mainly on account of change in funding pattern which has come down from 75:25 to 60:40 for most of the states since 01.04.2015
(c)&(d): The cooking cost under Mid Day Meal Scheme has been increased by 7% with effect from 1st July,2016 over and above the cooking cost for the year 2015-16 and the revised cooking cost is ` 4.13 and ` 6.18 per child per day for primary and upper primary stages respectively. |
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