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

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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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 .

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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.

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Coverage area
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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.

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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.

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Getting ready to take meal

• .

• MDM distribution Children enjoy getting ready
  for the meal.

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Children having meal

• .

• MDM Children of all castes having meal together
  without any concern of diversity.

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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.,

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Findings of Survey Contd . . .

• Study shows that average 75 students go to
  school regularly in which Kila Mohamdi Nagars
  82 students go to regular school.

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Findings of Survey Contd . . .

• 88 students get MDM regularly, followed by 82
  in Kila Mohamadi, 88 in Aurangabad, highest 94
  in Ricksaw Colony.

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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.

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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.

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Findings of Survey Contd . . .

• Average 82 people think that this scheme will
  remove caste and religious feelings from young
  minds.

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Findings of Survey Contd . . .

• Average 86 hhs of surveyed area believe that MDM
  scheme will increase social harmony in the
  society.

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Findings of Survey Contd . . .

• Average 90 people are in support of this scheme
  and they recommended that it should continue.

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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.

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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

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Conclusion

• Mid Day Meal has contributed positively towards
  Social change.
• It has vast potential of transforming childrens
  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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Thank You . . .