IMPACT OF MID-DAY MEAL PROGRAMME IN DEVELOPING HEALTH

INDEX AND SOCIAL VALUES AMONG SCHOOL STUDENTS

CINCY JOHN
B.Ed Student( Physical Science)
Mount Carmel College of Teacher Education, Kottayam
Abstract
The study has been conducted to analyse the impact of mid-day meal programme in
developing health index and social values among school students. This study covers two
schools and the result revealed that mid-day meal has had significant positive impact in
the development of health index and social values among students.
Introduction
The mid-day meal scheme is the well known name for school meal programme in
India which started in 1960 s. The programme supplies free lunches on working days for
children in primary and upper primary classes in government , government aided, local
body, education guarantee scheme and alternate innovative education centres , maqtabs
supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and national child labour project schools run
by ministry of labour.
Under article 24, the convention Right of the child to which, India has committed to
providing adequate nutritious food children. The programme has undergone many changes
since its launch in 1995. The mid-day meal scheme is covered by the National Food security
act 2013.
The 2008 report says that improving child nutrition is of utmost urgency in Indian
states (UNDP,1999) so the mid day meal programme (MDP) is a right solution in the
respect .The key objectives of the programme are: protecting children from classroom
hunger, increasing school enrolment and attendance ,improved socialization among
children belong to all caste . Various studies have been conducted in India to about mid day
meal programme (Dreze and Goyal 2003 , Dreze and Kingdom 2001 ,Khera 2002
,Mondal et.al 2007 etc. ). Most of the studies revealed that there exist a positive
relationship between mid day meal programme and enrolment and attendance of students
in schools including development of health index and social values . Though attempts have
also been made to examine the impact of mid day meal in developing health index and
social values among students.

Objectives of the Study

1. To assess the role of mid day meal in the development of health index of school students
2. To assess the role of mid day meal in the development of social values among school
students
3. To compare the effect of mid day meal among students in two different schools.
4. To find out the nature of relationship between mid day meal programme and the
development of social values among school students
Methodology
Survey method was adopted for this study. The data has been collected during 2015-
2016 from 50 teachers and authorities in 2 upper primary level schools both in urban and
rural areas in Kottayam district. The selected schools were St. Marys HS, Bharananganam
and St. Goeorge HS, Aruvithura.
A self constructed questionnaire was used for the study containing different
dimensions to examine the relationship between mid-day meal programme and the
development of social values and health index among students.
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
1. Both these schools provide mid day meal on all working days which include nutritious
food items so that the students do not lose their attendance due to mal nutrition .The
government of Kerala provides sufficient funds and high quality of stationary items to
both these schools.
2. In both school, almost all students are utilizing the effect of this mid day meal
programme. But there are about 6 % of students who takes food from home inspite of
participating in mid day meal programme. In these two schools there was a difficulty to
distribute mid day meal due to insufficient stationary items.
3. The survey reveals that both these schools cook food in a very hygienic atmosphere and
there is kitchen and sufficient irrigation facility provided in the school compound itself.
On the basis of this survey, it is understood that mid day meal is 100 % an effective
remedy for all health problem of the students because the students never met the problem
of food poisoning.
4. The number of students suffering from lack of vision, anemia, migration etc. Is
comparatively less in both schools and there will be a health check up at certain intervals
of time. It is observed that equality and co-operation, mutual love, personality
development etc. are growing and there will be no economic difference among students.
About 95 % of the members of the PTA general body also support the mid day meal
programme.
Conclusion
It is conducted that mid day meal programme (MDM) has had a positive impact in the
development of health index and social values among students. The results indicated that
there has been significant positive influence on academic achievements of students by taking
into consideration factors-development of social values, health index, attendance, enrolment
etc. Furthermore mid day meal programme have some other benefits like removal of
classroom hunger, social and gender equality and formation of good habits of students other
than academic achievement in school.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midday_Meal_Scheme
http://www.mdm.nic.in/Files/PAB/PAB-2011-12/AWP-Write%20up/Kerala.pdf