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Millets in Mid Day Meal Scheme

 

Millets in Mid Day Meal Scheme: Relevance

  • GS 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

 

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Millets in Mid Day Meal Scheme: Context

  • Recently, Union Government has urged the states to explore the possibility of introducing millets in the mid-day meal scheme.

 

Millets in Mid Day Meal Scheme: Key points

  • Mid-Day meal scheme has been recently renamed as PM POSHAN.
  • Millets or nutri-cereals, includes Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi.

 

Government Schemes

 

Reason for mid day meal scheme millet

  • They are rich in minerals and B-complex vitamins, as well as proteins and antioxidants, making them an ideal choice for improving the nutritional outcome of children.
  • However, despite such benefits, consumption of millets remains low due to lack of awareness and availability.
  • As per National Family Health Survey-IV, 38 per cent of children under five years of age are stunted and 59 per cent of children are suffering from anaemia.
  • Among one of the series of initiatives, to reduce malnutrition and anaemia, the Government is laying emphasis on consumption of millets.
  • NITI Aayog has also been advocating the need to introduce millets in the mid-day meal programme, moving away from rice and wheat.
  • Moreover, in 2019, NITI Aayog had released a report showing the benefits of millets based on a study among adolescents in four Karnataka schools.

 

Global Hunger Index 2021

 

About PM-POSHAN

  • Mid Day Meal scheme was recently renamed as PM-POSHAN.
  • 24 lakh students receiving pre-primary education at government and government-aided schools will also be brought under the ambit of the scheme from next year.
  • PM POSHAN has been launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22 to 2025-26). The Centre will bear Rs 54,061 crore of the total estimated cost of Rs 1.3 lakh crore;
  • PM POSHAN does not propose any hike in the honorarium of cooks and workers;

 

Hunger Hotspots: A Report by FAO-WFP

 

About Mid-Day Meal Scheme

  • Under MDM, which was first launched in 1995, hot cooked food is provided to student from Classes 1 to 5.
  • In 2017, the scheme was expanded to include students from classes 1 to 8.
  • Primary (1-5) and upper primary (6-8) schoolchildren are currently entitled to 100 grams and 150 grams of food grains per working day each, to ensure a minimum of 700 calories;
  • Tamil Nadu is considered the pioneer in introducing mid-day meals in government schools.

 

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