Mid-day meals: an initiative to build a society

Since many students in India suffer from malnutrition, the Indian government has developed a program to provide free meals to primary and upper primary school students. the relationship between health and education the government of India came up with a Mid-day meals scheme also known as the National Program Of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE). Children are the backbone of our society. So if we provide them with a good education and teach them what is right, we will help build a strong society. For various reasons, many Indian children are denied the opportunity to learn and receive an education. One of the main reasons includes socioeconomic factors.

What are midday meals?

In August 1995, the Government of India launched the National Primary and Secondary School Nutrition Support Program (NP-NSPE) to provide free cooked meals to children in government primary and secondary schools. The National Primary Nutrition Support Program is intended to cover all government schools in India. However, due to institutional constraints, only a few states implemented it, while most other states opted to provide dry rations to students who were in attendance at least 80% of the time.

The program expanded to many states between 1999 and 2004 when the Supreme Court ordered that midday meals be provided in all elementary schools.

Various studies conducted by economists suggested that the program had a positive impact on the attendance, education, and nutritional health of many disadvantaged students.

Studies regarding the benefits of mid-day meals

Midday meals have a long-term effect on children by improving their growth; children are found to be more engaged after a hot meal.
Continuous education teaches girls and women their rights so that they can eventually stand up for themselves and participate in family decision-making.
Studies conducted between 1993 and 2016 showed that children whose mothers had access to free school meals were less likely to be stunned.
Mid-day meals can address gender inequalities and teach children good practices like eating together.
Mid-day meals cannot be compromised under the program because there is a direct relationship between mid-day meals and economic aspects.
To a productive and professional population, children’s our backbone of society so it is critical to improving children’s health and learning to ensure a prosperous nation.

Challenges and issues faced

the scheme requires reform in several places:

Proper infrastructure is needed, as the lack of infrastructure led to food being prepared on makeshift stoves. The lack of utensils and a separate kitchen has led to cooks preparing food in class, which has distracted students. lack of utensils has also made students help cut vegetables.

the lack of adequate infrastructure has also led to a deterioration in the quality of the food, which affects children’s health.

Studies have also shown that the quantity of food offered has been lower.

It was also stated that there were irregularities in the implementation of the scheme as the daily meals did not include wheat, pulses, and vegetables.

Children from SC and ST groups are made to sit away from upper castes. there have been instances where food prepared by lower caste women was thrown away.

Role of society and organization

Properly implementing the mid-day meal scheme plays a significant role in improving literacy rate, health status, and irradicating classroom hunger, and inculcating social equality through eating together.

The central government set up a committee to oversee, assess and guide the state government but even after that, the problem persists.

it can be rectified by partnering the MDM with NGOs and voluntary organizations to provide free meals to disadvantaged students.

The local bodies in-charge should be monitored and fined for improper practices in providing mid-day meals.