Midday meal allocation gives food for thought

The national allocation for the midday meal scheme in the interim budget announced on Monday remains the same as last year. The programme, which is one of the world’s biggest school-feeding schemes, has been given Rs8,000 crore for 2009-10. There has been no increase in the allocation this year despite the success of the programme in retaining student attendance in civic-run and aided schools.

As a state government official says, for many poor children, the mid-day meal is the only meal they have. “This has helped us increase attendance in local body and municipal schools. It is a successful programme, and the government should continue to promote it,” he added. Though state officials are tight-lipped over the negative impact the budget might have on the schools’ attendance, educationists feel it will hamper the quality of food provided in the programme.

Last year, the union government had extended the mid-day meal to upper primary classes in government and government-aided schools. “The scheme has helped the government bring back dropouts back to school to some extent. However, the allocation this year is disappointing. If the allocation remains the same, the quality of food will be affected,” said M P Sharma, educationist, director of GD Somani High School, Cuffe Parade.

“Even earlier, students complained of poor quality of khichdi offered to them. How will the government ensure good quality of food with such a dismal budget allocation?” asked a municipal school teacher.