PM POSHAN Scheme: Centre to Bear Additional Cost of ₹425.62 Crore Due to Food Inflation
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme
- Earlier known as the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools.
- Renamed as Pradhan Mantri POSHAN Scheme in September 2021.
Key Features:
- Target Group:
- Covers children of Classes I to VIII in government and government-aided schools.
- Includes pre-primary children under Balvatika introduced in government schools.
- Meals Provided:
- Provides one hot cooked meal per school day.
- Meal content aligned with the National Food Security Act (NFSA)
- Funding Structure:
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Shared funding between the Central and State/UT Governments.
- Inclusion of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to ensure transparency.
- Special Focus Areas:
- Promotion of locally grown vegetables and nutritional diversity (Tithi Bhojan).
- Inclusion of farmer-producer organizations for supply chain improvements.
- Enhanced involvement of Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in meal preparation.
- Monitoring Mechanisms:
- Community participation for meal quality checks.
- Regular inspections and real-time monitoring through technology.
- Convergence with Other Schemes:
- Alignment with health and sanitation programs like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Ayushman Bharat.
- Recent Updates:
- The Ministry of Education has increased the ‘Material Cost’ under the scheme by 70%, based on the inflation index provided by the Labour Bureau.
- Nodal Ministry:
- Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The PM POSHAN Scheme is a comprehensive effort toward building a healthier and more educated future generation. Effective implementation and community involvement are pivotal for realizing the scheme’s objectives and ensuring equitable growth for India’s children.
