Dept. of Econ omics : MBPG Degree College Lucknow

Evolving strategies to strengthen Mid day meal scheme : A case study of three primary schools of LucknowDr. C S Verma Indu Pandey , Suman, Sonam, Sanchita, Kundal Dept. of Economics : MBPG Degree College Lucknow

Impact of mid - day meal INTRODUCTION • In UP, Launched in 2002. • Cooked mid day meal started in 2004. • To address health, education, nutrition and social equity issues. • Its main aim to remove hunger & malnutrition in poor.

INTRODUCTION Contd . . . The objectives of the mid day meal programme were to increase the enrolment, retention and attendance of children in school leading to universalisation of primary education, impacting learning and simultaneously also improving the nutritional status of children. Impact of mid - day meal

Impact of mid - day meal Facts • A cooked mid day meal makes the school attractive for the child and along with enrolment and attendance it impacts the learning process. • Studies have shown that children come to school on an empty stomach and the issue of ‘classroom hunger’ is extremely serious.

Facts Contd . . . The contribution of the MDM to food security and child nutrition was especially crucial in tribal areas where hunger is epidemic. Households run by women, widows and of the landless as well as mothers who had to work through the day placed a deep value on the free lunch provided in the school. Impact of mid - day meal

Impact of mid - day meal Objective of the study • To make assessment of the ongoing Mid Day Meals programme. • To increase public participation in the ongoing Mid Day Meals programme. • To create awareness on food Security. • Evolve possible strategy to strengthen MDM.

Impact of mid - day meal Work PlanAssessment : Phase – I Assessment to be done for the following aspects - • The kind of food provided. • The infrastructure in schools. • The problems of teachers in implementing the MDM. • The participation of people, women etc. • Involvement of the Ward Committee. • Agency that provides food.

Impact of mid - day meal Work PlanAssessment : Phase – II • To look into the availability of local foods that can be used for formulating new recipes. • Role of village youths to be assessed with the objective of sensitising them to involve in awareness programmes on MDM . • Sensitising youths to directly involve in the monitoring of the MDM.

Impact of mid - day meal Work PlanAssessment : Phase – II Contd . . . • General awareness will be done within the community on food security through regular meetings. • Two day Teacher training will be done for better management and develop understanding of nutrients. • A Detailed Documentation of the process. A detailed report and a small film of 15 minutes will be prepared .

Impact of mid - day meal Research methodology • Baseline survey was planned in three ways. • One , getting information about the school from school sources. The questionnaires prepared for the purposes used for getting this information. • Two, feedback from the parents of the school children by visiting the households of the three localities. • Three, Focus Group Discussions. • Use of statistical tools for data analysis. • Use of Computer software.

Impact of mid - day meal Coverage area

Impact of mid - day meal Base Line Survey • 60 households, whose children were enrolled, from three villages ,surveyed. • Interacted with 60 children, from three schools. • Focus Group Discussions with villagers, Ward Committee members held. • Observed the Meal distribution and how students eat. • All Teachers contacted.

Impact of mid - day meal Base Line Survey Contd . . . • Watched food distribution in school. • Observed children getting ready for meals in all three schools. • Observed teachers while children having meal. • Had random interaction with community people. • Interacted with Ward Committee members.

Impact of mid - day meal Getting ready to take meal • . • MDM distribution : Children enjoy getting ready for the meal.

Impact of mid - day meal Children having meal • . • MDM : Children of all castes having meal together without any concern of diversity.

Impact of mid - day meal Findings of Survey • Water facilities : Hand pump in two out of three schools. • Monitoring : Once in three months. No involvement of parents or Ward Education Committee. • Quality of meal : Satisfactory, but menu not followed. Lack of records. Food supplying school was not ready to show details of Quantity of food etc.,

Findings of Survey Contd . . . Food being cooked for 44 schools in one place in the premises of primary school Aurangabad. Contracted NGO is Chhangaram Bahuddesiya Jan Kalyan Samiti, Lucknow. Ration issued is 1.6 Kg per student for 20 days. 5 cooks engaged, all from SC community. NGO coordinator informed that they have not got any payment for ration bought since July. Impact of mid - day meal

Impact of mid - day meal Findings of Survey Contd . . . • Lack of Community Participation. • Lack of Awareness. • MDM a tool for Nutrition among poor households but improvement needed. • Parents of school children favour the MDM scheme and want it to continue.

Impact of mid - day meal Findings of Survey Contd . . . • Average 71% households surveyed believe that MDM has contributed in increased attendance of students. • 88% H holds of Rickshaw colony, the poorest among surveyed localities agree with this.

Impact of mid - day meal Findings of Survey Contd . . . • Parents suggest food be cooked in school itself. • Some children earlier working as child labour, coming to school now regularly. • A few children still out of school due to poverty, working as child labour. • Distance a problem for children of Rickshaw colony.

Impact of mid - day meal Findings of Survey Contd . . . • Study shows that average 75% students go to school regularly; in which Kila Mohamdi Nagar’s 82 % students go to regular school.

Findings of Survey Contd . . . 88% students get MDM regularly, followed by 82% in Kila Mohamadi, 88% in Aurangabad, highest 94% in Ricksaw Colony. Impact of mid - day meal

Findings of Survey Contd . . . An interesting result came out in the study that average 78 % students wash their hands before taking their lunch. Inspite of 35% Tondekheda in Kila Mohamadi Nagar. Impact of mid - day meal

Findings of Survey Contd . . . As study shows that there are lot of improvement needed in the scheme, average 78% hhs support of it followed by 88% Kila Mohamadi, 76% Aurangabad, 71% Rickshow Colony. Impact of mid - day meal

Findings of Survey Contd . . . Average 82 % people think that this scheme will remove caste and religious feelings from young minds. Impact of mid - day meal

Findings of Survey Contd . . . Average 86% hhs of surveyed area believe that MDM scheme will increase social harmony in the society. Impact of mid - day meal

Findings of Survey Contd . . . Average 90% people are in support of this scheme and they recommended that it should continue. Impact of mid - day meal

Follow up Meetings held with parents and community people on their role in improving MDM. Ten school dropouts children re admitted to school. Parents committees formed to monitor the MDM, to have monthly meetings also. Teachers sensitised on the concept of MDM and their role in developing a healthy generation. Impact of mid - day meal

Follow up Contd . . . Meetings held with Youths of the village and groups formed . Youths sensitised on the importance of MDM and their role in transforming society through MDM Youth monitoring committees on MDM formed Impact of mid - day meal

Conclusion Mid Day Meal has contributed positively towards Social change. It has vast potential of transforming children’s minds in healthy direction. It has some difficulties in implementation, which can be sorted out with a will power to improve. The community participation and surveillance can add to the quality of the scheme. The scheme has contributed towards checking Child labour. Gender sensitivity has been positively impacted by the MDM. Impact of mid - day meal

Impact of mid - day meal Recommendations • Locally available foods that cater to taste and nutritional adequacy must be encouraged and the value of a cooked meal as perceived by children be given its due importance. • Good quality food must be served with dignity, love, care and respect to all. Special attention should be given to those who are already marginalized and effort towards building sensitivities at all levels of the programme- from children, teachers, communities, schools up to programme planners need to be strengthened.

Impact of mid - day meal Recommendations Contd . . . • For successful implementation the participation of the community needs to be increased and awareness on food Security needs to be created. • Compulsory training be planned to build capacity of the teachers to efficiently manage and knowledge of nutrition the Mid Day Meals programme. • Issues of infrastructure in schools such as water supply, toilets, kitchen area, hiring of cooks etc need to be addressed. Also the basic infrastructure of the ICDS programme- a functional anganwadi must be ensured in every settlement.

Impact of mid - day meal Recommendations Contd . . . • A convergence between the ICDS, MDM and the School Health Programme is need to be established. • Regular monitoring of Mid Day meal will help. • Food should be cooked in every school instead of supplied food.

Recommendations Contd . . . Meal should be made available on all 365 days. College and University students may be involved in this programme. This should be made compulsory. Counseling of community people on Kitchen gardens. Menu to have seasonal vegetables and fruits. Menu should be followed strictly. Awareness campaigns needed on issues related to hunger in general and hunger deaths in particular. Impact of mid - day meal

Thank You . . . Impact of mid - day meal

Dept. of Econ omics : MBPG Degree College Lucknow