Context:
The Centre has announced that it will bear the additional cost of ₹425.62 crore on account of inflation in food material cost under the Centrally sponsored PM POSHAN Scheme in the financial year 2024-25.
Highlights:
- The Centre also provides about 26 lakh tonnes of foodgrains through the Food Corporation of India for which it bears 100% cost, including subsidy of approximately ₹9,000 crore a year and 100% transportation cost from FCI depots to schools.
PM POSHAN
- Ministry: Ministry of Education
- Previous Name:
- National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in schools.
- September 2021:
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed as Pradhan Mantri POSHAN Scheme.
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
- Coverage: one hot cooked meal is being served to students studying in Balvatika and classes I to VIII, in Government and Government-aided schools on all school-days.
- Aims and Objectives:
- To promote healthy eating among children and to motivate them to attend school regularly.
- This scheme addresses, nurturing. Secondary to this, it solves the two most important issues for the majority of children in India, hunger and education.
- Improving the nutritional status of eligible children in Government and Government To improve the eligibility of Government and Government Aided schools with Beneficiaries in the categories of nutrition.
- Nutritional support to elementary children in drought-affected or disaster-hit areas during summer vacation.
