The Midday Meal Scheme is being implemented in the Union Territory of Puducherry since French Administration i.e. from 1930. Nearly 67400 students are covered under the Midday Meal Scheme studying from I to XII standard in 440 Government / Government Aided Private Schools besides Pre-Primary children. The Midday Meal Programme is being implemented under Central Assistance as well as under State Plan.

Sl.No	Regions	Primary			Upper primary			Upper primary without primary			Higher Secondary			Total
		Govt. Schools	GA	Total	Govt. Schools	GA	Total	Govt. Schools	GA	Total	Govt. Schools	GA	Total
1	Puducherry	151	1	152	44	0	44	71	19	90	5	0	5	291
2	Karaikal	60	1	61	13	0	13	26	5	31	2	0	2	107
3	Mahe	8	0	8	4	0	4	3	0	3	2	0	2	17
4	Yanam	17	0	17	0	0	0	6	1	7	1	0	1	25
Total		236	2	238	61	0	61	106	25	131	10	0	10	440
Grand Total		430									10			440

There are 431 number of Govt. and Govt. aided schools in Puducherry. 31621 number of students are studying in lower primary schools while 24895 number of students are studying in upper primary schools. To ensure accuracy of data the department relies upon the UDISE data for making assessment of requirements of rice and other requirements. The UT is preparing food for the students in 13 centralized kitchens, 11 school based cluster kitchens and 11 school canteen centres. Accordingly, the requirements of rice, diet articles and other items are arrived as per the norms prescribed by the MHRD centrally at the Directorate. As far as implementation of the MDM programme is concerned, the Directorate of School Education is the nodal department.

In Pondicherry region food is prepared in 10 Central kitchens, 2 no.of school based Cluster kitchens are directly monitored by the Director of School Education (DSE). There is one Deputy Director level officer who is given the exclusive responsibility of monitoring the programme. Besides, Inspecting Officers including Chief Educational Officer and Deputy Inspector of School also inspect both the kitchens and the schools to ensure the programme is implemented hassle free.

In Karaikal District, the programme is implemented under the supervision of the District Collector, and monitored by the Chief Educational Officer and Deputy Inspector of Schools. There are 2 central kitchens and 9 number of school based cluster kitchens where food is prepared and distributed to schools.

In Mahe region, the Regional Administrator monitors the scheme and the Chief Educational Officer assumes the overall responsibility of the implementation of the scheme. And in the Yanam region, the Regional Administrator monitors the scheme under the supervision of Delegate to the Director of School Education.

The Midday Meal Scheme is being implemented in Pondicherry directly by the Directorate of School Education and there is no involvement of NGOs / Trust for serving of MDM through centralized kitchen.

The concept of preparing the Midday Meals in centralized modern kitchens is being followed and nearly 50000 students out of 70 thousand students are covered under centralized kitchens and hence there is no local level variation in the menu. Even in school based cluster kithen the above said menu is being followed without any deviation.

During 2018-19, 26108 students were covered under Midday Meal at Primary level and 18933 students at Upper Primary level and 25383 students Pre Primary, High and Higher secondary level.

n the U.T of Puducherry 13 Central Kitchens are functioning at present besides 11 School Based Cluster Kitchen and 11 School Canteen Centres are functioning for the preparation of Midday Meal. The Schools are located within a distance 8 to 10 Kilometres from the central kitchens. Hardly 10 to 30 minutes is taken for the hot cooked meals to be delivered at schools from the preparation point by using closing vehicles.

PUDUCHERRY	FEEDING STRENGTH	KARAIKAL	FEEDING STRENGTH
Kurusukuppam	4058	Central kitchens
Ariyankuppam	3795	Thalatheru	5081
Thondamanatham	4139	T.R.Pattinam	2732
Villianur	4500	SCC Government High School , Vizhidiyur	698
Embalam	3016	Government High School, Sethur	573
Kalmandapam	3946	Government High School, Kurumbagaram	882
Kirumampakkam	4558	Government Primary School, Nedungadu	670
Shanmugapuram	4183	Government Middle School, Thirunallur	1040
Pillaichavady	1827	Government Primary School, Poovam	827
Lawspet	4946	Government High School, Karaikalmedu	835
Koonichampet	3380	Government Primary School, Ambagathur	685
K.T.Kuppam	2780
Total	45128	TOTAL	14023
MAHE- 11 SCHOOL CANTEEN CENTRES	3802	YANAM- CENTRAL KITCHEN	5657
Total	3802	Total	4447
Grand& Total	67400

DAYS	MENU
Monday	Rice, Mixed Vegetable Sambar, Carrot Poriyal
Tuseday	Variety Rice - Tomato Rice with Potato Poriyal & Egg
Wednesday	Rice, Mixed Vegetable Sambar, Beetroot Poriyal
Thursday	Variety Rice - Tamarind Rice with Potato Poriyal & Egg
Friday	Rice, Mixed Vegetable Sambar, Raw banana Poriyal

Region	Total beneficiary
Puducherry Region	37340
Karaikal Region	13500
Mahe Region	2900
Yanam Region	4000
Total	57740

As the procurement of Diet articles are procured in a centralized manner by the Nodal Department i.e Directorate of School Education. The funds both from Central and State are being utilized by the Nodal Department and there is no flow of fund to Central Kitchens and School Canteen Centres.

      1. U.T administration spent Rs. 1267.96 lakhs, for the implementation of MDM as the MDM is extended to the students studying upto 12th Standard including Pre-Primary.
      2. Food is prepared in modernized Central Kitchens / School based cluster kitchen and school canteen centres in a hygienic atmosphere.
      3. Safe drinking water has been ensured by installing RO system with multiple tap systems for hand washing.
      4. Purchase of diet articles is being made only through co-operative Institutions /Govt. Undertakings by limited tender system. Purchase of pulses for the Midday Meal Programme from NAFED for the year 2018-19.

Tmt. Sonia Gandhi, the then Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha has inaugurated the scheme cold milk was supplied to the students under Shri Rajiv Gandhi Breakfast Scheme. However, as the supply of sweetened flavoured cold milk to the young children are not advisable during winter season and there are certain practical difficulties to handle huge volume of cold milk by keeping the temperature below 10ºCelsius..

The introduction of  Breakfast Scheme provides food security to the poor children.  This may play a vital role in boosting school attendance, punctuality and attentiveness in the classrooms, eliminating dropouts, classroom hunger and also fostering social equity which otherwise could be a possibility.  It is also a terrific way of enhancing nutrition among school going children. 

The height and weight of the students have shown marked improvement after the introduction of the Breakfast Scheme. The scheme improves the enrolment and attendance of students especially enrolment of girl students thus contributing to gender equality.  It breaks the fast of the sleep hours and prepares the child for problems solving and memory spans in the learning period.  It enhanced the nutritional status and thereby reducing the status of malnutrition.  The percentage of malnutrition has been drastically reduced after the introduction of the Breakfast Scheme in this Union Territory of Puducherry.

Supplement to the Breakfast scheme Nutritious biscuits served to stand alone Primary Children in r/o of Puducherry and Karaikal region by the Trust, free of cost.

Detailed Guidelines / Procedures to be followed by all the Heads of Institutions for the implementations of Shri Rajiv Gandhi Breakfast Scheme are issued vide Circular No.6566/Edn./DE/PA/2002-03, dated 04.03.2003 of the Director of School Education, Puducherry for strict compliance.  The nutritional value of the diet items under Shri Rajiv Gandhi Breakfast Scheme as follows:

UT administration implements the Breakfast Scheme under State fund for an amount of Rs. 924.54 lakhs for the year 2018-19.