PM-POSHAN scheme
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Schemes
Source: TH
Context: A century after its inception in Madras, the PM-POSHAN scheme continues to combat hunger and promote education, but a new report highlights persistent ground-level challenges like fund delays, caste discrimination, and rising costs.
About PM-POSHAN scheme:
• Full Name: Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana
• Launched In: 2021–22 (replacing the 1995 Midday Meal Scheme)
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (60:40 Centre-State cost-sharing)
• Objective: Provide one hot cooked meal per day to students of Classes 1–8 in government and government-aided schools.
Key Features:
• Nutritional Focus: Provides rice/wheat, pulses, vegetables, and eggs/bananas where allowed.
• Coverage: Benefits 11.80 crore children in 11.20 lakh schools (as of 2023–24).
• Funding Outlay: ₹54,061 crore (Centre) + ₹31,733 crore (States/UTs) till 2025–26.
• Additional Innovations: Promotes nutrition gardens, IT-based monitoring, and social audit mechanisms.
• Implementation Linkages: Tied with Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and Poshan Abhiyan for holistic child development.
Successes of PM-POSHAN in India:
• Increased Enrolment & Retention: As per a 2024 review, MDM schemes boosted enrolment, attendance, and retention, especially among marginalized groups (Jean Dreze study).
• Gender Equity & Girls’ Education: Tamil Nadu reports dropout rates have fallen drastically among girls due to nutritional support and inclusion of breakfast.
• Tackling Classroom Hunger: Midday meals offer first and only meal for lakhs of poor children, enhancing concentration and learning outcomes (UNICEF reports).
• Local Innovations: Tamil Nadu’s Breakfast Scheme and Kerala’s egg-fried rice menus show proactive state-level reforms addressing nutrition.
• Community Participation: Kerala’s model uses local cooks and community buy-in to support child nutrition and hygiene.
Key Challenges in PM-POSHAN Implementation:
• Delayed Fund Disbursal: Teachers in Kerala and UP report using personal loans and funds to manage meal expenses due to 3–6 months fund delays.
• Inadequate Per-Child Allocation: States like UP and Kerala receive ₹6–10 per child/day, far below actual costs (₹30–40 per child/day).
• One-Size-Fits-All Policy: Uniform guidelines ignore local dietary needs, especially in tribal/rural belts.
• Caste-based Discrimination: Reports from Delhi NCR, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar reveal Dalit students being segregated or denied meals.
• Teacher Burden: School heads like Vasudha in Kerala say cooking/admin duties reduce teaching hours, affecting quality education.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Most schools lack multiple cooks, storage, or kitchen space, despite serving hundreds of students.
Way Forward:
• Revise Cost Norms: Update allocations based on inflation and region-specific dietary costs to ensure adequate, nutritious meals.
• Ensure Timely Fund Transfers: Implement direct transfer systems to schools with strict timelines for transparency.
• Decentralise Menu Planning: Let states and districts tailor meal plans to local tastes and nutrition needs (e.g., Odisha’s millet inclusion).
• Strengthen Monitoring Systems: Use tech-enabled real-time dashboards and social audits to ensure transparency and community oversight.
• Promote Equity and Dignity: Conduct regular sensitization and awareness campaigns to eliminate caste-based discrimination in schools.
• Leverage NGO Partnerships: Collaborate with civil society to address psychosocial, gender, and nutrition gaps beyond government structures.
Conclusion:
The PM-POSHAN scheme remains central to India’s battle against child hunger and dropout rates. While its intent is commendable, implementation gaps weaken its transformative potential. Addressing funding, inclusion, and flexibility can turn it into a true engine of educational equity.