The Centre has taken notice of the low coverage of the midday meal scheme in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh during the previous year and has demanded corrective actions from the respective state governments. Officials familiar with the matter revealed that the governments of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have been asked to submit detailed action taken reports by September. The issue was raised during meetings held between the Project Approval Board (PAB) of the PM Poshan (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, which oversees the midday meal program under the Union Ministry of Education, and the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
According to the minutes of the meetings, which have been reviewed by sources, the PAB expressed concerns about the accuracy of the midday meal coverage data submitted by Madhya Pradesh for the year 2022-23, referring to it as “artificial.” In the case of Bihar, the PAB noted that the coverage remained significantly low throughout the same period. Specifically, the coverage of students at the primary level stood at 57%, while the coverage at the upper primary level was 58% in Bihar during 2022-23.
Centre Demands Corrective Actions: Bihar and Madhya Pradesh’s Midday Meal Coverage Under Scrutiny
Regarding Madhya Pradesh, the PAB observed that the state government reported coverage rates of 68.78% for enrolled students in primary classes (Classes 1 to 5) and 68.86% in upper primary classes (Classes 6 to 8) for the same period. However, it raised concerns about 22 districts at the primary level and 21 districts at the upper primary level, where the coverage percentage remained fixed at 65%.
Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Union Ministry of Education, Sanjay Kumar expressed doubts about the consistency of the coverage percentages in multiple districts, deeming it “artificial and improbable.” The PAB urged the state to implement special measures to improve the coverage and requested an action taken report by September to the centre.
In the case of Bihar, the PAB highlighted the low coverage rates for students at both the primary and upper primary levels, standing at 57% and 58% respectively, compared to the enrollment figures for 2022-23. The secretary of the department raised concerns about several districts, including Patna, Nalanda, Vaishali, Siwan, Nalanda, Darbhanga, and Kishanganj, where the coverage percentages were significantly below the state average. The secretary called for an action taken report to be submitted by September 2023 and emphasized the need for implementing systems to increase the coverage among enrolled students.
In response to the developments, a senior officer in the Bihar education department highlighted that the daily attendance in government schools has consistently remained around 55% to 60%. The officer stated that allocations are made based on the average attendance figures provided by the Centre. Dhananjay Pratap Singh, secretary of the MP Panchayat and Rural Development Department, responsible for the distribution of midday meals, expressed confidence in the accuracy of the data provided by the School Education Department. However, he assured that the matter would be thoroughly examined.
Alarmingly Low Coverage: Bihar and Madhya Pradesh Directed to Rectify Midday Meal Scheme Implementation
The Centre’s demand for reports and corrective measures underscores the significance of accurate coverage data and the need to address any discrepancies to the centre. The midday meal scheme plays a crucial role in ensuring proper nutrition for school-going children, and it is essential to monitor and improve its implementation. By seeking action taken reports, the Centre aims to ensure that necessary steps are taken to enhance the coverage and effectiveness of the midday meal program in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
Centre Urges Bihar and Madhya Pradesh to Rectify ‘Dubious, Inadequate’ Midday Meal Coverage
The Centre has taken note of the concerning issue of low coverage in the midday meal scheme in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh during the previous year. In response, it has directed to the centre the respective state governments to take immediate corrective measures and submit detailed action taken reports by September.
The matter was brought to attention during meetings held between the Project Approval Board (PAB) of the PM Poshan (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, responsible for overseeing the midday meal program under the Union Ministry of Education, and the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Upon reviewing the minutes of these meetings, it has been revealed that the PAB expressed reservations regarding the authenticity of the midday meal coverage data submitted by Madhya Pradesh for the year 2022-23, deeming it “artificial.” Similarly, in the case of Bihar, the PAB observed that the coverage remained alarmingly low throughout the same period. Specifically, the coverage of students at the primary level was reported to be 57%, while the coverage at the upper primary level stood at 58% during 2022-23.
Regarding Madhya Pradesh, the PAB noted that the state government claimed coverage rates of 68.78% for enrolled students in primary classes (Classes 1 to 5) and 68.86% in upper primary classes (Classes 6 to 8) for the same period. However, concerns were raised about 22 districts at the primary level and 21 districts at the upper primary level, where the coverage percentage remained fixed at 65%.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy in the Union Ministry of Education, expressed skepticism about the consistency of the coverage percentages across multiple districts, describing it as “artificial and improbable.” The PAB strongly recommended that the state take immediate measures to improve coverage and requested an action taken report by September.