Context:
A Parliamentary Committee has recommended expanding the PM-POSHAN scheme to include breakfast and extend coverage up to Class 12, aiming to improve nutrition and educational outcomes.
Key Highlights:
- Policy Recommendations
- Introduce breakfast along with mid-day meals under PM-POSHAN.
- Extend scheme coverage:
- Up to Class 10 initially
- Up to Class 12 within five years
- Rationale
- Adolescence is a critical growth phase requiring enhanced nutrition.
- Improved nutrition linked to better cognitive performance and reduced dropouts, especially among girls.
- Current Scheme Status
- PM-POSHAN currently covers students up to Class 8 in government and aided schools.
- Related Concerns
- Resource concentration in PM-SHRI schools questioned.
- Recommendation to release pending Samagra Shiksha funds to some states.
- Key Schemes
- PM-POSHAN: Nutritional support via cooked meals.
- PM-SHRI Schools: Model schools under NEP 2020.
- Samagra Shiksha: Integrated education scheme (pre-school to Class 12).
- Significance
- Addresses malnutrition and learning outcomes simultaneously.
- Supports human capital development.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- PM-POSHAN is the revised Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
- Covers government and aided schools.
- Samagra Shiksha integrates SSA, RMSA, and teacher education.
- PM-SHRI schools aim to implement NEP 2020 vision.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Nutrition-Education Link
- Proper nutrition enhances learning ability, attendance, and retention.
- Critical for reducing dropout rates, especially among girls.
- Social Justice Dimension
- Supports children from economically weaker sections.
- Reduces inequality in access to nutrition and education.
- Challenges
- Financial burden on Centre and States.
- Infrastructure and logistics for breakfast provision.
- Ensuring quality and hygiene standards.
- Governance Concerns
- Unequal resource allocation (PM-SHRI vs regular schools).
- Delays in fund release affecting implementation.
- Way Forward
- Phase-wise expansion with adequate funding support.
- Strengthen monitoring and nutrition standards.
- Integrate with health and ICDS programmes.
- Ensure equitable distribution of resources across schools.
UPSC Relevance:
• GS 2: Social Justice (Nutrition, education)
• GS 2: Governance (Scheme implementation)
• GS 3: Economy (Human capital development)