The cooking cost which includes the cost of vegetables, pulses, oil, condiments & fuel is being upwardly revised annually since 01.04.2010. The cooking cost has been enhanced by 7% w.e.f. 01.07.2016 and it now stands at Rs.4.13 and Rs.6.18 per child per day for primary and upper
primary stages respectively. Besides
the above, the Central Government provides 100%
funding for foodgrains, transport assistance, kitchen devices and
Management/Monitoring Expenses. Several State/UT Governments are also contributing additional
funds over and above their minimum mandatory share under Mid
Day Meal Scheme.
The Central Government have notified the
Mid Day Meal Rules, 2015 in September, 2015 under the
National Food Security Act, 2013. These Rules, interalia, provide that hot cooked meal provided to children shall be
evaluated and certified by the Government Food Research Laboratory or any other
laboratory accredited or recognized by law so as to ensure that the meal meets
with the prescribed nutritional standards and quality. The samples are to be
collected at least once in a month from randomly selected schools or
centralized kitchens for testing by such laboratories.
The Mid Day Meal Guidelines
prescribe the following nutritional content to achieve the objectives of the
Scheme in the mid day meal:
|
Items
|
For children of Primary
classes
|
For children of
Upper Primary classes
|
|
A) Nutritional Norms (Per
child per day)
|
|
Calorie
|
450
|
700
|
|
Protein
|
12 gms
|
20 gms
|
|
B) Food Norms (Per child per
day)
|
|
Food-grains
|
100 gms
|
150 gms
|
|
Pulses
|
20 gms
|
30 gms
|
|
Vegetables
|
50 gms
|
75 gms
|
|
Oil & fat
|
5 gms
|
7.5 gms
|
|
Salt & condiments
|
As per need
|
As per need
|