PM-POSHAN

Why in news?

• The mid-day meal scheme will now be known as PM POSHAN, with the Centre initiating a major political push pivoted around ‘child nutrition’, and announcing that around 24 lakh students receiving pre-primary education at government and government-aided schools will also be brought under the ambit of the scheme from next year.

What is PM POSHAN?

• PM POSHAN Scheme aims for providing one hot cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• This is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Education which covers all school children studying in Classes I-VIII of Government, Government-Aided Schools.
• The earlier name of the scheme was ‘National Scheme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools’ popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

More about PM POSHAN:

• The scheme will be extended to students studying in pre-primary.
• It also has components to promote development of School Nutrition Gardens in schools
• Social Audit of the scheme is made mandatory in all the districts.
• Special provision is made for providing supplementary nutrition items to children in aspirational districts and districts with high prevalence of Anemia.
• Cooking competitions will be encouraged at all levels to promote ethnic cuisine and innovative menus based on locally available ingredients and vegetables.
• In line with the ‘Vocal for Local’ for Atmanirbhar Bharat >> Involvement of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups in implementation of the scheme will be encouraged. Use of locally grown traditional food items for a fillip to local economic growth will be encouraged.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding PM-POSHAN?

1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Education.

2. The scheme aims in providing one cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer