The central government spends Rs 20,000 crore every year for the PM POSHAN Scheme earlier known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme benefitting over 12 crore children studying in government and government-aided schools across the country.Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme earlier known as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes Bal Vatika and I-VIII of government and government-aided schools.
The scheme covers about 12 crore children in the age group of 5-11 years, comprising of 22.6 lakh children from Bal Vatika, 7.2 crore children from primary and 4.6 crore children from upper primary, studying in 11.20 lakh schools across the country. According to the Ministry of Education, the objectives of the PM POSHAN are to address two of the pressing problems for the majority of children in India, such as hunger and education by improving the nutritional status of children studying in classes Bal Vatika and I – VIII in government and government-aided schools, encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
“Every year central government spent more than Rs 20,000 crore (USD 2.5 billion) under the Scheme including food subsidy of about Rs 9,500 crore. Food Security Allowance was provided to all enrolled children during the closure of schools on account of lockdown due to Covid Pandemic,” Education Ministry Sources told ANI.