How do mid-day meal schemes boost education & nutrition in india?

13/08/25

Blog

57

What is Mid Day Meal Scheme

The Mid Day Meal (MDM) Scheme is a government programme in India that provides free, cooked meals to school children. It aims to serve children one nutritious meal a day, helping them stay healthy and focused on their studies. This scheme was introduced in 1995 to tackle two major problems—hunger and school dropout rates. Many children from less fortunate families skip school because they have to work for food. The Mid Day Meal Programme encourages parents to send their children to school by offering them a free, hot meal.

Food and education go hand in hand. A hungry child finds it hard to concentrate in class, affecting their learning. By providing proper nutrition, the Noon Meal Programme helps children grow physically and mentally, making sure they stay in school and build a better future.

The Need for Mid Day Meal Scheme in India

India has a large population of children who come from less privileged backgrounds. Many of these children suffer from undernutrition and hunger, which affects their overall growth and ability to learn.

• Undernutrition in Children: Poor nutrition can lead to stunted growth, weak immunity, and difficulty concentrating. The Mid Day Meal Scheme helps address these issues by providing essential nutrients.
• School Dropout Rates: Many families in rural and economically backward areas struggle to provide food for their children. This leads to low school attendance as children are often forced to work to earn food.
• Encouraging Education: The Mid Day Meal Programme ensures that children receive a meal at school, which encourages parents to send them regularly. This significantly improves school enrollment and attendance rates.

By addressing both nutrition and education, this scheme plays a crucial role in shaping a brighter future for India’s children.

How Mid Day Meal Scheme Helps Children

The Mid Day Meal Scheme has multiple benefits that directly impact the well-being of children. Here’s how it makes a difference:

Provides Better Nutrition

Children need a balanced diet to grow and develop properly. The Mid Day Meal Programme ensures they receive essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, which help in reducing undernutrition, strengthening immunity, and improving overall health and growth.

Increases School Attendance

Many children in rural areas do not attend school regularly due to a lack of food at home. The Noon Meal Programme gives them a strong reason to attend school, as they are assured of a hot meal. Studies show that schools with Mid Day Meal facilities have higher enrollment and lower dropout rates.

Read Also: Nutritional Programmes in India for Child Health and Nutrition

Improves Learning Ability

A child who is hungry finds it difficult to concentrate in class. With a nutritious meal, they have better focus, memory, and energy to participate in school activities. This results in improved academic performance.

Supports Women Empowerment

Many states hire women, especially from marginalised communities, to cook and serve mid-day meals. This provides them with employment opportunities and financial independence.

Government’s Role

The Mid Day Meal Scheme is run by the Central and State Governments, but its successful implementation requires collaboration with NGOs and private organisations to ensure more children receive the benefits of Mid Day meal programme.

.The government funds and monitors the Noon Meal Programme to ensure that food is:

• Nutritious and prepared hygienically
• Delivered on time to schools
• Free from contamination and meets quality standards

To improve efficiency, some states use centralised kitchens where meals are prepared in bulk and distributed to schools.

Bal Raksha Bharat’s Role in Nutrition and Mid-Day Meal Implementation

Many NGOs work with the government to improve the efficiency and reach of the programme. At Bal Raksha Bharat, a child welfare NGO, (also known as Save the Children India), we are committed to ensuring that every child receives proper nutrition and education. Our work in improving the Mid Day Meal Programme and addressing child undernutrition includes:

• Strengthening Nutrition Awareness: We educate parents, teachers, and communities on the importance of child nutrition and healthy eating habits. This awareness makes sure that more children and their families get to know about the advantages of Mid Day Meal Scheme.
• Improving Meal Distribution: We collaborate with schools and local authorities to enhance food distribution, ensuring timely and hygienic meals for children.
• Addressing Undernutrition: Our programmes track children’s health, provide nutritional supplements when needed, and support early detection of undernutrition.
• Driving Behavioural Change: Through community-level interventions, we promote healthy eating practices, hygiene, and sanitation to create a long-term impact.
• Supporting Government Programmes: We align with initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyan, Anemia Mukt Bharat, and the Eat Right Campaign to improve the overall health and nutritional well-being of children, adolescents, and mothers.

As a multi-thematic organisation, we take an integrated approach to tackling undernutrition and achieving Mid Day Meal objectives. We implement evidence-based strategies in nutrition-sensitive agriculture, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), social protection, education, and livelihoods. Our goal is to ensure optimal utilisation of health and nutrition services for children, adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Through our efforts, we strive to ensure that every child survives, learns, and thrives. Our ambition for 2030 is to continue expanding our impact, bringing multi-sectoral interventions to the most vulnerable families, and ensuring a healthier, brighter future for India’s children. You can support this mission when you donate online and help us reach more children in need.

Naveen Kumar

“Naveen is an SEO expert and digital marketing analyst at Bal Raksha Bharat with a passion for helping businesses grow online. With a data-driven approach, he specializes in boosting search rankings, driving traffic, and optimizing digital strategies. Follow for tips on SEO, content, and marketing trends."