Every Government and Government-aided primary school and all schools run by a State Government, UT Administration, or with Government money by a Local Body or Non-Government organisation, in every part of the country must provide a nutritious, clean hot cooked meal to all primary school children. Cooked meals with a minimum content of 450 calories and 12 grams of protein is to be provided on each working day of the school.
The Mid-day Meal Scheme has recently been expanded to cover children in upper primary schools too.
The Government of India contributes to the mid day meal scheme in the form of supply of free foodgrain (@ 100 grams per child per day) and a contribution of Rs. 1.50 per child per day towards cooking costs provided the State Government/UT Administration contributes a minimum of 50 paise.
MDM Court Order Summary
- Cooked mid-day meal should be provided in all government and government aided primary schools in the State / Union Territories.
- In all drought-affected areas, the mid day meal is to be provided to primary school children throughout the summer vacation.
- This meal is to be provided free of cost to all school children. Money for the meal is not to be collected from parents of children under any circumstances.
- The Central Government is also to allocate funds to meet the conversion costs of food-grains into cooked mid day meals. Provisions are also to be made for the construction of kitchen sheds, better infrastructure and improved facilities including facilities for drinking water.
- In appointment of cooks and helpers preference is to be given to dalits, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Links to important documents related to MDM
- MDM Primer
- MDM guidelines
- Data related to mid day meals are available on the Department of School Education and Literacy website
- Supreme Court orders on MDMS
