Boosting Student Health: Maharashtra's Mid-Day Meal Program Reintroduces Eggs and Bananas

Mid Day Meal Program: Ensuring Nutrition and Education for Disadvantaged Children

The Mid Day Meal program is vital for children's well-being, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It provides essential nutrition, improves physical and cognitive development, and serves as the main meal for many students. The program also boosts school attendance, reduces absenteeism, and enhances academic performance by supporting concentration and memory. Ensuring all children, regardless of background, have access to nutritious meals promotes social equity. Regular meals help prevent malnutrition and health issues, with eggs and bananas offering crucial protein and potassium for growth.

Following widespread criticism of its decision to stop funding eggs and sugar for its midday meals program, the Maharashtra government reversed its decision. School education minister Dadaji Bhuse explained that feedback from experts, teachers, and local communities highlighted the importance of eggs for students' protein intake and health. As a result, the government reinstated the provision of eggs and bananas once a week. Sources confirmed that eggs and bananas will be reintroduced to the midday meal menu in the new academic year. The government is also set to double the allocation from ₹50 crore to ₹100 crore in the upcoming state budget. Bhuse assured that all administrative requirements for the scheme would be fulfilled.

In 2023, the Maharashtra government introduced eggs or bananas once a week for 50 lakh school children under the midday meal program, allocating ₹50 crore. However, after protests, the government revised its policy, issuing a Government Resolution (GR) on January 28 to stop funding for eggs and sugar. The GR also instructed school management committees (SMCs) to raise funds through public contributions if they wished to continue providing these items.

The withdrawal of ₹50 crore under the revised midday meal plan, which aligned with the PM Poshan scheme, prompted strong reactions from multiple stakeholders, including educationists and school management committees. The reinstatement of eggs and bananas in the midday meal program emphasises the critical role of nutrition in supporting children's health, education, and overall development.

Editor's Note:

The Mid Day Meal program is important in supporting the well-being and education of children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Maharashtra government's decision to reverse its previous order and reinstate funding for eggs and sugar highlights the program's significance in providing essential nutrition. By ensuring access to nutritious meals, the program promotes physical and cognitive development, boosts school attendance, and improves academic performance. It also fosters social equity by ensuring all children, regardless of socio-economic background, have access to healthy food. The government's commitment to doubling the program's allocation in the upcoming state budget emphasises its profound impact on the lives of millions of children, contributing to a brighter and healthier future. 

Skoobuzz firmly supports this crucial decision, as it not only prioritizes children's health and education but also reflects a dedication to building a stronger, more equitable society for future generations.