How has the history of the idea of nutrition in school schemes progressed so far?
How has the history of the idea of nutrition in school schemes progressed so far?
The story so far: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Program for Class I to V students in government schools on Thursday at Madurai Corporation’s Aathimoolam II Primary School in Simmakal, Madurai. The scheme covers around 1.14 lakh students in 1,545 schools, which include 417 municipal corporation schools, 163 municipal schools, and 728 village taluk and panchayat level schools. A sum of ₹33.56 crore has been set aside for the plan. The inauguration of the program marks an important milestone in the State’s history of providing free meals to school students.
Read also | Chief Minister’s Breakfast Plan launched in Tamil Nadu
How has the idea evolved?
In November 1920, the Madras (now Chennai) Corporation Council approved a proposal to provide tiffin for students at a Corporation School in Thousand Lights at a cost not to exceed one anna per student per day. P. Theagaraya Chetty, the then president of the Corporation (whose modern equivalent is mayor) and one of the stalwarts of the Justice Party, said that the children who studied at the school were poor, which affected the solidity of the institution. very’. The scheme, which was extended to four more schools and facilitated higher student enrollment, suffered a setback in 1925 when the British government banned spending on the provision of midday meals to Primary Education Fund students. It was revived two years later and benefited some 1,000 poor students in 25 schools.
The concept was applied throughout the State in 1956 when the then Chief Minister K. Kamaraj decided to provide free lunch to poor children in all primary schools in the State. The Budget for 1956-57 contained a provision for the supply of school lunches for 200 days a year, initially covering 65,000 students in 1,300 dining rooms.
In July 1982, it was left to the then Chief Minister MG Ramachandran to extend the program to children in the 2-5 age group in Anganwadis and to those in the 5-9 age group in rural primary schools. . Later, the scheme, now called the Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Nutritious Meals Scheme, was also extended to urban areas. Since September 1984, students in grades VI through X have been covered by the plan.
Over the years, there have been improvements to the program. M. Karunanidhi, as Chief Minister during the short-lived Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Ministry (1989-1991), introduced the provision of boiled eggs once every fortnight, beginning in June 1989. His successor, Jayalalithaa, in March 2013, expanded the scheme by including varied meals along with masala eggs as per the children’s choice.
What is the number of program beneficiaries?
As of now, there are nearly 46.7 lakh beneficiaries spread across 43,190 nutritious meal centers. This includes around 3,500 special school students from the National Child Labor Project (NCLP). The state budget for 2022-23 has provided around Rs 2077 crore for the nutritious meals programme.
Furthermore, as a consequence of the collaborative implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the nutritious meals programme, around 15.8 lakh children in the age group of 2+ to 5+ years are provided with nutritious meals.
THE ESSENCE
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Program for Class I to V students in government schools on Thursday at Madurai Corporation’s Aathimoolam II Primary School in Simmakal, Madurai.
Anemia is a major health issue in Tamil Nadu, especially among women and children, says the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 report. Based on expert advice, nutritious meals program managers can improve the nutrition component for those children who have specific problems. The latest Breakfast Scheme is a step in this direction.
As of now, there are nearly 46.7 lakh beneficiaries spread across 43,190 nutritious meal centers.
What was the impact of the lunch plan on school education?
After the improved version of the midday meal plan in 1982, the gross enrollment ratio (GER) at the primary level (standards I to V) increased by 10% during July-September 1982 compared to the corresponding period in 1981 .
The increase in enrollment for boys was 12% and for girls, 7%, according to a publication by the Tamil Nadu government on the occasion of the launch of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme.
Likewise, attendance during July-September 1982 increased by 33% over the previous year.
Kamaraj – An Era (2008), a biography written by senior congressional official A. Gopanna, states that after the midday meal plan was inaugurated in 1956, the number of elementary schools increased from 15,800 in 1957 to 29,000 in 1962.
Where should the program focus more?
Anemia is a major health issue in Tamil Nadu, especially among women and children, says the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 report. From 50% during the 2015-16 NFHS-4 period, the prevalence of anemia in children has now risen to 57%. This and many other health problems can be addressed through the combined efforts of the School Education, Public Health and Social Welfare, and Women’s Empowerment departments.
Based on expert advice, ICDS implementers and the nutritious meals program can improve the nutrition component for those children with specific problems. The latest Breakfast Scheme is a step in this direction.
In addition, a continuous and rigorous review of the progress of the nutritious meals scheme and program must be carried out on a sustained basis, says a senior government official.
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