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1.2 History

In 1925, a Mid-Day Meal Programme was first
introduced for disadvantaged children in Madras
Municipal Corporation. By mid-1980s, three
states – Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu along
with the Union Territory of Pondicherry had
universalised a cooked meal programme with
their own resources for children in the primary
section. By 1990-91, the number of states
implementing Mid-Day Meal Programmes was
12.

In 2001, ‘Right to Food’, a derived fundamental
right which is enforceable by virtue of the
constitutional remedy, was recognised. The
An Overview of Supreme Court of India on November 28, 2001
MID-DAY MEAL and Union Territories to implement the
passed an order directing the State Governments
Mid-Day Meal Scheme. As per the scheme every
PROGRAMME child in every Government and Government
assisted Primary School was to be provided a
prepared mid-day meal. In 2002, the scheme was
extended to cover children studying in Education
Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Alternative &
Innovative Education (AIE) centres. Further
amendments and inclusions have only boosted
the extent of implementation of the Mid-Day
The Mid-Day Meal Programme is the largest of its kind school lunch programme in the Meal Programme.
world with 97.8 million beneficiaries. Here is an overview of the programme whilst
emphasising on its development over the years. It is one of the most promising programmes to
directly tackle classroom hunger and promote
education. Enhancing enrolment, retention and
1.1 Mid-Day Meal Scheme attendance while simultaneously improving the
nutritional levels among children has been the
genesis for this programme. This Scheme has the
In order to improve the nutritional profile of school-age children in the country, the
Government of India designed the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS). The programme potential to counter the three interconnected
supplies free lunches on school days for children in primary and upper primary classes issues of illiteracy, hunger and poverty.
in Government and aided schools. A well-conceived initiative, it falls in the ambit of the
Government of India’s flagship programme – Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), and aims to: Since 2001, when the Supreme Court of India
formally mandated that cooked mid-day
Eliminate classroom hunger meal should be provided to every child at all
Address malnutrition government schools and government assisted
Increase enrolment primary schools, this programme has received
Improve retention much appreciation and impact on the classroom
Improve attendance hunger, literacy and health, yet the nation as a
Encourage socialising whole has a long way to go. The Government
Promote gender equality of India and all State Governments have been
constantly trying to improve this programme
The programme is in line with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). with new inclusions and improvement directives
in the meal menu such as addition of fruit and
milk in the menu.

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