PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Abhiyaan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given the nod to the PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) Scheme, a transformative initiative aimed at providing a hot cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools. This scheme, spanning from 2021-22 to 2025-26, replaces the familiar Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Let’s unravel the key facets of this Centrally-Sponsored Scheme that caters to the nutritional needs of school children.
Scope and Scale: The PM POSHAN Scheme covers approximately 11.80 crore children enrolled in 11.20 lakh government and government-aided schools across the nation. In the fiscal year 2020-21, the Government of India invested over ₹24,400 crore, with food grains alone costing around ₹11,500 crore.
Financial Outlay: Approved with a comprehensive budget, the scheme entails a financial outlay of ₹54,061.73 crores from the Central Government and ₹31,733.17 crores from State Governments & UT administrations. An additional ₹45,000 crore will be borne by the Central Government for food grains, making the total scheme budget an impressive ₹1,30,794.90 crores.
Key Highlights and Improvements:
- Expansion to Pre-Primary: The PM POSHAN Scheme is extended to students in pre-primary or Balvatikas in government and government-aided primary schools, encompassing all children from elementary classes.
- Tithi Bhojan Concept: Encouraging community participation, the scheme promotes Tithi Bhojan, where people provide special food to children on special occasions or festivals.
- School Nutrition Gardens: Introducing School Nutrition Gardens provides children with hands-on experience in gardening, fostering a connection with nature and supplementing the scheme with additional micro-nutrients.
- Social Audit: Making social audit mandatory in all districts enhances transparency and accountability in the implementation of the scheme.
- Special Provisions for Aspirational Districts: Addressing regional disparities, the scheme allocates additional provisions for supplementary nutrition items in aspirational districts and areas with high prevalence of anemia.
- Cooking Competitions: Encouraging cooking competitions at various levels promotes ethnic cuisine and innovative menus using locally available ingredients.
- Vocal for Local: The scheme emphasizes the involvement of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups, fostering Atmanirbhar Bharat. Local, traditional food items are encouraged for economic growth.
- Field Visits for Monitoring: Eminent universities, institutions, and trainee teachers will undertake field visits for progress monitoring and inspections.
Evolution of Mid-Day Meal Scheme: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has a rich history, dating back to 1925 when it was introduced for disadvantaged children in Madras Municipal Corporation. Over the years, it expanded, and by 1990-91, twelve states had universalized a cooked Mid-Day Meal Programme. The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched in 1995, further expanding to cover all blocks of the country by 1997-98.
Improvements Over Time:
- Food Norms: Revised food norms ensure a balanced and nutritious diet for upper primary children.
- Cooking Cost: Regular revisions in cooking costs facilitate serving meals in prescribed quantities and of good quality.
- Honorarium for Cooks: Introduction of a separate component for the honorarium of cooks-cum-helpers addresses manpower challenges.
Conclusion: The PM POSHAN Scheme signifies a leap forward in addressing the nutritional needs of school children. With its expansive scope, innovative concepts, and commitment to local empowerment, it not only nourishes bodies but also lays the foundation for a healthier, brighter future. As India progresses on its journey towards self-reliance, the PM POSHAN Scheme stands as a beacon of positive change in the realm of education and child nutrition.