NEW DELHI: The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has revised the guidelines of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to increase calorie and protein content, and introduce micronutrients in food served under the largest school meal programme in the world.

New guidelines

As per the new guidelines for the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education — issued in September — the calorie content in food served in schools will have to be 450; an increase of 150 over the norm set in 2004. And, protein content has been fixed at 12 gm from eight-to-12.

While micronutrients have not been specified till date in the programme — which is now 11 years old — the revised norms specify that iron, folic acid, Vitamin-A and other micronutrients shall be provided in adequate quantity to all children in these schools from Classes I to V. Children shall be given a six-monthly dose for de-worming and Vitamin-A supplementation, a weekly iron, zinc and folic acid supplement, and other supplements to meet common deficiencies local to the area where the school is located. Also, only iodised/double fortified (iron and iodine) salt can be used for cooking.

As per the guidelines, those micronutrients have been factored into the programme which can address the four major nutritional deficiencies — protein-energy malnutrition, iron deficiency anaemia, Vitamin A deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders — identified as affecting young children in the country.

The guidelines have been revised because of the difficulties reported by stakeholders of the earlier programme. While the existing nutritional norms were found to be inadequate to address the growing needs of young children, the existing cost of Re. 1 per child towards cooking cost was not enough to meet the cost of providing a wholesome meal, especially after the discontinuation of the Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana.

Siince the increase in the cooking cost from Re. 1 to Rs. 1.50 in all States other than those in the North-East — where it has gone up to Rs. 1.80 per child — meant an additional burden on the Central coffers in excess of Rs. 100 crore, the proposed revision was referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail