Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
Mid Day Meal Scheme :Launch and Other features
Mid Day Meal Scheme :Launch and other features
Mid Day Meal Scheme was started in India from 15th August 1995 under the name of ‘National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-
NSPE)’. In October 2007, NP-NSPE was renamed as ‘National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools,’ which is popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Recently,milk has been included in the mid-day meal of children by the Vice President.
In September 2021, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed ‘PM POSHAN’ or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman
and PM POSHAN will extend the hot cooked meals to students studying in pre-primary levels and government-aided primary schools,
in addition to those already covered under the mid-day scheme.
PM POSHAN
The scheme has been launched for 5 years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a budget of Rs 1,30,794.90 crore.
According to the government it will benefit 11.80 crore children studying in 11.20 lakh schools across India.
The scheme is different from the mid-day meal scheme in the following ways:
*The scheme will also focus on monitoring the nutritional levels of schoolchildren.
*A nutritional expert will be appointed in each school to ensure that the BMI, weight levels and haemoglobin levels of the students are monitored.
*In districts with a high prevalence of anaemia, special provisions for nutritional items would be made.
*The government is also considering developing nutrition gardens on school campuses.
*Cooking competitions will also be held under the scheme to promote ethnic cuisine and innovative menus based on local ingredients.
