Mid-day Meals

Over 100 students fell ill after eating a mid-day meal allegedly contaminated by a dead snake in Mokama, Bihar, prompting an NHRC probe and demand for a report

The issue was raised by AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam when BJP legislator Dharmeswar Konwar asked a question regarding irregularities in the mid-day meal scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to former Tamil Nadu chief minister K Kamaraj on his birth anniversary and said his emphasis on social empowerment is a guiding force for all. Born in Tamil Nadu in 1903, Kamaraj rose to become one of the leading Congress leaders and his tenure as chief minister of Madras State, later renamed Tamil Nadu, is known for its emphasis on social welfare, especially education. He is credited with pioneering the mid-day meal scheme to boost school attendance among the poor sections of society. "I pay homage to Thiru K. Kamaraj on his Jayanti. A stalwart who devoted his life to India's development, his emphasis on social empowerment is a guiding force for us all. We reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his vision towards poverty alleviation and public welfare," Modi tweeted.

The Rajasthan government on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 864 crore for daily inclusion of milk in mid-day meals to school students up to Class 8 across the state. At present, sweetened-hot milk is served twice a week in government schools under the 'Mukhyamantri Bal Gopal Yojana', launched on November 29, 2022. To further boost the nutritional value of the daily mid-day meals, milk will now be provided during the remaining four days as well for all students of classes 1 to 8, an official statement said. The scheme, announced by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the 2023-24 state budget, will be started in government schools, madrassas and special training centers to ensure that students opting for mid-day meals are provided milk as well. According to the statement, Gehlot has approved a budget provision of Rs 864 crore for daily inclusion of milk in mid-day meals. Based on another announcement in the budget, the government said canals and distributaries in Kota, Bundi and Baran ..

Analysis of data shows that India has fewer states now providing egg in mid-day meal schemes, even fewer are provisioning fruits and only a third of the states/UTs are giving milk to children

The move comes in view of the continued closure of schools since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic

In locations where hot meals are not possible, a simple but nutritious meal may be provided

Globally, a further 6,000 children under age 5 could die each day due to reduction in routine health coverage during the pandemic

Only MPs, staff and journalists are allowed to enter the Parliament from Monday.

Many children do not get nutritional food because they live in faraway areas and cannot reach the main centre by foot

The ministry had received 35 complaints from 15 states and Union Territories regarding substandard food quality during the same period

Under the mid-day meal scheme, every enrolled child, aged 6-14 years and studying in classes 1 to 8, is provided hot cooked meals having certain notified nutritional standards