Contact Us: 0413 - 2207283

GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY
DIRECTORATE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION

MID DAY MEAL SCHEME

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.

NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS

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

IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE

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.

Central Kitchen and School based Kitchen system

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.

List of Kitchens

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
 

MENU-DAY WISE

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-wise beneficiaries

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

To improve the nutrient content to eggs / per week to be served to the school children diet scales are as follows:

Sl. No
Item
Class
Quantity
1 Rice I to V Std Not exceeding 100 grams per student/day
2 Rice VI to XII Std Not exceeding 150 grams per student/day
3
Oil
I to XII Std
3 gms per student/day
5 gms per student/day on variety rice day
4 Masala Chilly Powder I to XII Std. 2 gms per student/day( 0.5 gms Achi podi)
5 Toor Dhall I to XII Std. 10 gms per student/day
6 Kadalai/Mochai I to XII Std. 5gms per student per day on non-egg days
7 Tamarind I to XII Std. 2 grams per student/day
5 grams on Tamarind rice day
8 Dry Chilly I to XII Std 0.4 grams per student/day
9 White Gram Dhall I to XII Std. 0.20 grams per student/day
10 Mustard I to XII Std 0.20 grams per student/day
11 Asafoetida I to XII Std. 0.1 grams per student/day
12 Turmeric Powder I to XII Std. 1 gram per student/day
13 Garlic I to XII Std. 1 gram per student/day
14 Double fortified Salt I to XII Std. 4 grams per student/day
15 Sombu I to XII Std. 0.1 grams per student/day
16 Pattai I to XII Std. 0.05 grams per student/day
17 Cloves I to XII Std. 0.01 grams per student/day
18 Bay Leaf I to XII Std. 0.01 grams per student/day
19 Vegetables I to XII Std. 75 grams per student/day (Sambar & Poriyal)
20 Egg I to XII Std. 2 Eggs per week (weighing >= 50 gms. Each)

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.

Best/ Innovative Practices

PROVIDING HOT MILK TO THE CHILDREN IN THE MORNING

HAND WASH & NOON MEAL TAKEN BY CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

SHRI RAJIV GANDHI BREAKFAST SCHEME

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:

Name of the Item
Quantity
Energy (Kcal)
Hot-milk
100 ml
79

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