The Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), a centrally sponsored initiative, provides free, hot, cooked meals to children in classes I to VIII of government and government-aided schools, aiming to improve nutrition, boost school attendance, and address hunger.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme:
Objectives:
Improve Nutritional Status:
The primary goal is to ensure children receive a balanced diet and essential nutrients, addressing malnutrition and promoting healthy growth and development.
Increase School Attendance and Retention:
By providing a free, nutritious meal, the scheme aims to remove the barrier of hunger and incentivize parents to send their children to school, thereby increasing attendance and retention rates.
Coverage:
Schools: The scheme covers all government and government-aided schools, including Special Training Centers (STCs) and Madarasas & Maktabs supported under Samagra Shiksha.
Classes: It caters to children studying in classes I to VIII.