The Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy sponsors PM POSHAN at the national level. Under this program, students attending public and public-aided schools will get one hot, home-cooked meal every day. Without regard to gender or socioeconomic background, the Program is applied to all eligible children across the nation.
Objectives of the PM POSHAN Scheme
The PM POSHAN Abhiyaan’s primary goals are to address two of the most pressing issues facing the majority of Indian children, namely hunger and education, by enhancing the nutritional status of eligible students in Government and Government-aided schools as well as encouraging underprivileged students from disadvantaged sections to attend school more frequently and support their ability to focus in the classroom.
One of the several programs included in the “Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS)” umbrella program is POSHAN Abhiyaan. Anganwadi Services Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls are additional programs covered under ICDS.
Benefits of the PM POSHAN Scheme
Nutritional standard per day per child:
- Primary: 450 calories; 12 grams of protein
- Upper Primary: 700 calories; 20 grams of protein
Food requirements per day per child:
- Oil & fat: 5 gms, Vegetables: 50 gms, Cereals: 100 gms, Pulses: 20 gms, Vegetables: 50 gms Salt and condiments – As necessary.
- Upper Primary: Cereals – 150 gms; Pulses – 30 gms; Vegetables – 75 gms; Oil & Fat – 7.5 gms; Salt & Condiments – As Required.
In addition to the 11.80 crore students in classes I through VIII enrolled in 11.20 lakh primary schools, freshly cooked meals are provided to Bal Vatika (pre-kindergarten) students in primary schools under the Scheme.
Features of PM POSHAN Scheme
- According to the government, the centrally supported PM Poshan program will deliver hot, prepared meals to elementary school pupils in their classrooms, and it is anticipated to help over 118 million children nationwide who are enrolled in classes 1 through 8.
- The national midday meal program will now be named as the PM Poshan Scheme and will include pupils in pre-primary schools who are balvatikas (children between the ages of 3-5).
- The program was once known as the “National Scheme for Mid Day Meal in Schools,” often referred to as the “Mid Day Meal” program.
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- A specific provision is established for supplying supplemental nutrition products to children in districts with a high frequency of anemia and other health-related conditions, and the social audit of the program has been made necessary in all of the country’s districts.
- For the purpose of compensating the chefs and assistants employed under the program, the Center has ordered the states and UTs to move to the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method.
- Cooking competitions will be held to promote ethnic cuisine and creative menus, and Farmer’s Producer Organizations (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups will also be involved in the implementation of the scheme. Using locally-grown nutritious food items from “school nutrition gardens” will be encouraged to support local economic growth.
The Eligibility Criteria For PM POSHAN Scheme
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
- The aspirant must be enrolled in a Primary or Upper Primary class (1st to 8th) at a government-run or government-aided school.
Application Method of PM POSHAN Scheme
This program has no application procedure. The PM POSHAN program is equally applicable to all students enrolled in public and publically aided educational institutions.