PM-POSHAN Scheme: Strengthening School Nutrition and Support Staff Welfare

Why in News ?

Recently, 22 States and Union Territories that responded to the Ministry of Education’s call for feedback on the PM-POSHAN scheme have urged the Centre to increase the honorarium for cooks and helpers, highlighting concerns over low remuneration and workforce sustainability in one of India’s largest school nutrition programmes.

Background: Evolution of India’s School Nutrition Programme

India’s school meal programme began in the mid-1990s to address widespread child malnutrition and low school attendance among disadvantaged groups. Over time, it evolved into a comprehensive social welfare intervention linking nutrition, education, and social equity.

The scheme was rechristened as PM-POSHAN in 2021, reflecting an expanded scope, updated nutritional norms, and a renewed policy focus on early childhood education and holistic child development.

What is the PM-POSHAN Scheme ?

The PM-POSHAN Scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Education.

Key features include:

• Coverage of all eligible children without discrimination based on gender, caste, class, or religion.
• Provision of one hot cooked meal per school day to children studying in:
  • Balvatikas (pre-primary classes), and
  • Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools.

It is among the world’s largest school feeding programmes, playing a central role in India’s human capital development strategy.

Objectives of the Scheme

The PM-POSHAN Scheme aims to:

• Enhance the nutritional status of school-going children.
• Improve enrollment, retention, and attendance, especially among children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds.
• Support cognitive development and learning outcomes by addressing classroom hunger.
• Promote social equity by encouraging children from diverse backgrounds to eat together.

Implementation Mechanism and Coverage

The scheme is implemented through:

• State governments and Union Territory administrations, in partnership with:
  • School management committees,
  • Local self-government institutions,
  • Women’s self-help groups, and
  • NGOs in some regions.

Meals are prepared either:

• On school premises, or
• Through centralized kitchens where feasible.

The scheme currently covers millions of children across rural, urban, and tribal areas, making it a cornerstone of India’s school education ecosystem.

Funding Pattern Under PM-POSHAN

The cost-sharing arrangement under the scheme is:

• 60:40 between the Centre and States/UTs with legislatures.
• 90:10 for Northeastern and Himalayan States.
• 100% central funding for UTs without legislatures.

This flexible funding structure recognises regional disparities in fiscal capacity and development needs.

Recent Demand: Honorarium for Cooks and Helpers

Cooks and helpers are the backbone of the PM-POSHAN Scheme, responsible for:

• Preparing meals,
• Maintaining hygiene and food safety,
• Serving children daily.

However, their honorarium remains low and often irregular, prompting 22 States and UTs to request an increase. This demand reflects concerns over:

• Rising cost of living,
• Workforce motivation and retention, and
• Ensuring consistent meal quality and safety.

Challenges in the PM-POSHAN Scheme

Despite its scale and impact, the scheme faces several challenges:

• Low remuneration and job insecurity for cooks and helpers.
• Variations in meal quality and nutritional adequacy across regions.
• Infrastructure gaps, such as lack of kitchens, storage facilities, and clean water.
• Monitoring and accountability issues, especially in remote and rural areas.
• Occasional food safety incidents, underscoring the need for stronger standards and training.

Way Forward: Strengthening School Nutrition and Workforce Support

To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of PM-POSHAN, policymakers should:

• Increase and index honoraria of cooks and helpers to inflation.
• Provide social security benefits such as health insurance and pension coverage.
• Invest in kitchen infrastructure, clean fuel, and safe water facilities.
• Strengthen nutrition standards, menu diversity, and local food sourcing.
• Improve monitoring mechanisms, including digital tracking and community oversight.
• Integrate the scheme more closely with health, sanitation, and early childhood development programmes.

Such reforms can ensure that PM-POSHAN continues to serve as a powerful instrument for improving nutrition, education outcomes, and social equity.