PM POSHAN Scheme

Introduction

The CCEA cleared the PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) Scheme for providing one hot cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26, earlier known as ‘National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools’ popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme. This is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes Pre-Primary, Primary & U. Primary (Nur-VIII) in Government, Government-Aided Schools.

In January 2006, the scheme was converted to provide cooked meals on a trial basis. Subsequently this scheme was extended to all Govt./Govt. aided schools and Madrasas.

The objective of the programme is to give a boost to Universalization upto Elementary Education (UEE) by increasing enrolment, attendance, retention and simultaneously improving the nutritional status of children in pre-primary & elementary classes.

Process of Plan Formulation

Cooked and whole some meal is being served to eligible students. In order to ensure good quality and hygienic food, 15 School Based Cluster Kitchens are being run in Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector-10, 15, 20 (Girls), 26, 40, 44, 47, Dhanas and Govt. Model High School, Sector-12, 29, 38, 42, Pk. No.8 Manimajra, Makhanmajra, Karsan to provide cooked food to all 123 Schools of UT Chandigarh.

In all 123 institutes (114 Govt. Schools, 6 Govt. Aided Schools and 3 Madarssas) have been covered under the PM POSHAN Scheme (Mid Day Meal).

Coverage of Children (Working Days-274)

Funds Allocation & Expenditure

The funds allotted and expenditure incurred during the year 2021-22 is as under :

Budgetary Allocation for the 2022-23

Type of Food being Served :-

Menu at Cluster Kitchens may be decided as per the liking of Children and with the consultation of SMCs.

Note : Sweet Dish (Halwa/Kheer/Dalia/Sweet Rice) may be given once in a month or on special occasion like Children Day or under Tithi Bhojan Concept

Teacher Incharge and Supervisor have been engaged at all 15 School based Cluster Kitchens to ensure the cooked food is prepared by the respective kitchen as per the above mentioned weekly menu or liking of Children and monitoring the cooking process.

Principals/heads of the schools are deputed daily, in rotation, to check the quantity, quality of MDM and cleanliness/hygiene in the cooking area. Besides, they taste of the cooked food before it is supplied for distribution in the schools.

In the schools Cook-cum-Helpers are engaged by the SMCs.

Systems to ensure transparency, accountability and openness in all aspects

The management of food grains is monitored and supervised by the committee consisting of following members in a systematic manner:-

1. The District Education Officer,
2. The Director Health Services
3. District Food & Supply Officer,
4. Principal of Govt. Sr. Sec. Schools.
5. Representative of FCI

Food-grains, after inspection by the committee, is lifted from the FCI godown located around the Chandigarh and stored in the Departmental Stores. Store keeper (MDM) maintains the record of the food-grains. He is also responsible for the issue of food-grains (rice and wheat flour) to the Kitchens. Wheat is further supplied from departmental store to the miller. Atta is lifted from miller for delivery to the Kitchens on weekly basis and rice is lifted from the store to Kitchens on weekly basis and managed smoothly. Record of food-grains received and utilized is also maintained by Kitchens.

Cooking of meals and serving is regularly supervised by the Principals/Heads of Schools, Teachers and SMCs.

Cooking Cost

Cooking cost fixed by GOI is Rs. 4.97 per meal for Pre-Primary & Primary stage children and Rs. 7.45 for Upper Primary stage children w.e.f 1.4.2020. This cost comprises the cost of components viz Pulses, Vegetables, Oil & Fats, Salt & Condiments and LPG Fuel but it does not include the cost of food-grains, Transportation and Administrative charges. Food-grains are provided by the GOI through FCI, the whole cost of which is born by GOI.

School Based Cluster Kitchens at GMSSS-10, 15, 20 (Girls), 26, 40, 44, 47 & Dhanas, GMHS-12, 29, 38, 42, Pk. No.8 Manimajra, Makhanmajra & Karsan procure cooking ingredients at their own level. Food-grains (wheat and rice) are provided by the Department. Per meal cooking cost is reimbursed to them as per norms fixed by GOI i.e. Rs. 4.97 for Pre-Primary & Primary Stage and Rs. 7.45 for Upper Primary w.e.f. 1.4.2020. To prepare meals – 2 Professional Cooks in addition to helpers and 1 Supervisor to maintain the books of PM Poshan Scheme have been provided to Incharge of each kitchen.

School Health Programme

Health Department of Chandigarh Administration is taking due cares in this regard from time to time with Health Checkups, IFA & De-worming Tablets distributions, Awareness Activities for prevention & to control the Diarrhoea, Malaria & Dengue etc.

Monitoring

There is only one District in UT, Chandigarh and the present monitoring structure is as under:-

All the HCS/PCS Officers working in Chandigarh Administration and Senior Officers of Education Department monitor the PM Poshan Scheme activities.

Senior Officers monitor the implementation of programme at the Cluster Kitchens. They check the taste, quality, quantity of meals and hygiene.

School Management committees monitor the implementation of PM Poshan programme in the schools.

The MDM is distributed to the students in the class rooms by the cook-cum helpers engaged through SMCs for the purpose, in the presence of Teachers. Teachers also taste the meal in the class rooms before its distribution.

Capacity Building

Training is being given to the persons involved in PM Poshan programme by the cooking institutes. Training to the cook-cum-helpers engaged in the schools for serving of meals is being given by the experts.

Testing of Cooked Food

To ensure the nutritive value of cooked food, Education Department has got food testing done by Health Department of UT, Chandigarh by analyzing the cooked food samples.

Fortification of Foodgrain & Salt

Education Department is using fortified foodgrains with Iron, Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 and Double Fortified Salt with Iron & Iodine under PM Poshan Scheme. Wheat is fortified at the time of milling of wheat at Flour Mill/Atta Chakki. Rice is fortified by the FCI as per the instructions of the GoI.

Grievance Redressal System

Feedback from the students is taken on the proforma devised by the department to redress complaints of the students and improve quality of the meals.

To redress the grievances of the parents a toll free helpline no. 1800-180-2053 & 0172-5021697 has been introduced which is displayed at the Schools.

Mechanized transportation has been introduced to ensure timely delivery of hot cooked meals in Schools.

Quality of MDM is got checked from the Health Department. Besides this, surprise inspections are also carried out by the Senior officers of Education Department also monitor the quality, hygiene and process of cooking, delivery of meals from the school based kitchens.

Introduction of Food Security Allowances during closure of schools in view of COVID-19 :

During the closure of Schools due to pandemic situation of COVID-19, the Education Department has provided Food Security Allowances to all the eligible children under Mid Day Meal Scheme due to COVID-19 in pursuance of direction issued by the Ministry of Education, New Delhi from time to time since 20^th of March, 2020 to upto restart of Cooked Meals. Pursuant to the instructions of the GoI, Food Grains (Wheat & Rice) was being distributed to all eligible student as part of FSA in accordance with norms i.e. 100 grm per day per child for Primary and 150 gms per day per child for U. Primary students during closure of schools due to COVID-19. Besides, Pulses and Oil (Equivalent to Cooking Cost) has also been distributed under Food Security Allowances.