NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT TO PRIMARY EDUCATION
[MID DAY MEAL SCHEME]
Annual Work Plan & Budget
2010-11
Jammu & Kashmir
1. Introduction
1.1 Brief history, objectives and rationale of the Mid Day Meal Programme.
National Programme of Nutritional Support to Education (popularly known as Mid Day Meal Scheme) was launched in the J&K State in September 2004 with an objective to give a boost to universalization of Primary Education by increasing enrollment, retention and attendance. Annual work Plan & Budget 2010-11 has been formulated to cover 8.95 lac children and 4.05 lac children at Primary & Upper Primary Stages respectively.
In pursuance of the directions dated 20th April, 2004 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court J&K School Education Department reviewed various issues related with the proper implementation of the scheme in accordance with the directions and necessary measures have been taken as under:-
· The programme has been universalized.
· At gross root level, the scheme is being implemented under the supervision of School Management Committees & Village Education Committees.
· The foodgrains are lifted from the FCI by the Directors of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department on behalf of the Education Department as the CAPD has a good network of sale outlets across the State with capacity to store the foodgrains.
· Thereafter the foodgrains are being lifted from the nearest Public Distribution Centre by the authorized representative of the identified schools.
· The contingent paid workers have been assigned the job of cooking.
· Necessary expenses on account of implementation of the Mid-day Meal Scheme are being met out of the funds (State-share 25%) available in the District Plan of Elementary Education Sector and 75 % is provided by the Govt. of India for Cooking cost, construction of Kitchen-cum-Stores and Kitchen Devices.
· Director School Education Kashmir/ Jammu and all the Chief Education Officers/Zonal Education Officers have been sensitized to ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of the scheme.
1.2 Demographic profile of the State.
The total geographical area of J & K state is 222236 square Kilometers which includes 78114 Sq. Km under occupation of Pakistan, 5180 Sq. Km handed over to China by Pakistan and 37555 Sq. Km under occupation of China in Leh (Ladakh) district. The geographical area of J & K state comprises 6.93% of the total Indian Territory. Geographically and administratively, the J&K state is divided into three divisions namely Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Out of the total area of J & K state Ladakh covers 70%, Jammu 19% and Kashmir 11%.
1.3 Social and economic indicators in the State, including literacy rates, child Population, sex ratio is as under:
(a) Total Population = 10143700 (Census – 2001)
(b) Area = 222236 Sq. Kms.
(c) Literacy rate = 55.50%
(d) Male = 66.50%
(e) Female = 42.20%
(f) Sex ratio = 900
(g) Highest Literacy rate = District Jammu
Persons = 77 %
Male = 84.40 %
Female = 68.50 %
(h) Lowest Literacy rate = District Budgam
Persons = 42.50 %
Male = 53.50 %
Female = 30.60 %
(i) Child Population
Upto 6 years = 1099201
6 to 11 years = 1370677
11 to 14 years = 648230
(j) Out of School Children = 0.52 lakh
1.4 Nutrition status, including data on malnutrition, anemia, Vitamin A, other micronutrient deficiencies etc.
Major nutritional deficiencies effecting young children in the State are as under:-
1.3 Protein energy malnutrition
1.4 Iron Deficiency Anemia.
1.5 Vitamin A Deficiency, and
1.6 Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD)
Malnutrition is silent emergency for the health care of the students in the age group of 0-6 years. Unlike communicable diseases malnutrition is invisible and attracts attention only when it co-exists with some infectious diseases. In the recent past a number of studies have been undertaken on human resource development, productivity, economic growth and national development. The studies reveal that various forms of malnutrition like anemia etc. result in reducing GNP of the country.
Nutrition Anemia due to Iron and folic Acid Deficiency is widely prevalent among young children and adolescents. Vitamin “A” deficiency is also affecting growing children and is a public health concern. Iodine Deficiency results in the loss of IQ and is responsible for poor physical and mental growth.
1.5 School data, including (i) number of schools (Government, EGS (now converted into Primary Schools) and AIE Centers) (ii) enrollment and (iii) dropouts is indicated:
Ø No. of Schools with only Primary classes = 13835
Ø No. of Schools with Primary & U. Primary classes = 7295
Ø No. of Schools with only U. Primary classes = 374
Ø Enrollment at Primary Stage = 8.954 lacs
Ø Enrollment at Upper Primary Stage = 4.051 lacs
Ø Drop-out Primary = 1.12 % A verifiable Parameter.
U. Primary = 2.94 %
2. Description and assessment of the programme implemented in the previous year (2009-10) with reference to:
2.1 Calorific. Protein value of the Mid - Day Meal provided.
Children studying in Primary classes (I-V) were provided 450 Calories with protein content of 12 gms and at Upper Primary stage (VI-VIII), calories of 700 with 20 gms of protein content was provided.
2.2 Regularity and wholesomeness of Mid-day Meals served to children reasons for programme interruptions, if any.
The Mid-Day Meal Programme could not be implemented due to Bhand (Crisis of Shopian District) in Kashmir Division.
2.3 Number of children who participated in the programme.
Total no. of children of class I-VIII to be covered under Mid-Day Meal Programme during 2009-10 were 8.51 lacs and 3.14 lac students at Primary and Upper Primary stage respectively.
2.4 Foodgrains Management, including adequacy of allocation, timelines of lifting, transportation and distribution, and suitability of storage at different levels.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure continuous availability of adequate foodgrains in godowns. The corporation has been asked to ensure lifting of foodgrains in such a manner that the chain of foodgrains remains uninterrupted. FCI has appointed a Nodal Officer for each state to take care of various problems in supply of foodgrains for the implementation of Mid Day Meals Programme. The FCI provide foodgrains through Consumers Affairs & Public Distribution Department to various schools. The Chief Education Officer at the District level allots the foodgrains quota to Z.E.O’s at the Block level on the basis of the student’s strength of Zone and Z.E.O’s concerned issue indents to the school Head teacher of Schools every month to lift foodgrains from the Depot of the Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Department.
2.5 Central Assistance received and utilized towards (a) cooking costs, (b) Kitchen shed construction, (c) procurement of kitchen devices, (d) management, monitoring and evaluation, (e) transport subsidy etc. during 2009-10;
Central Assistance received during 2009-10
Item / Unspent Balance ending 03/2009 / Central Assistance received during 2009-10 / Total / Actual Expenditure ending 03/2010 / Unspent Balance ending 03/2010 / RemarksI- Cooking Cost
a) Primary / 1232.13 / 791.00 / 2023.13 / 1599.36 / 423.77
b) U. Primary / 600.72 / 307.47 / 908.19 / 690.84 / 217.35
Total / 1832.85 / 1098.47 / 2931.32 / 2290.20 / 641.12
II- MME / 139.92 / 28.52 / 168.44 / 94.17 / 74.27
III- Transport subsidy / 375.75 / 90.03 / 465.78 / 211.04 / 254.74
IV- Kitchen Devices
a) Primary / 2.32 / 304.15 / 306.47 / 277.23 / 29.24
b) U. Primary / 1.95 / 82.80 / 84.75 / 70.95 / 13.80
Total / 4.27 / 386.95 / 391.22 / 348.18 / 43.04
V- Honorarium for Cook-cum-Helpers / 0.00 / 333.39 / 333.39 / 0.00 / 333.39 / The amount was not authorized by the State Finance Deptt as the same was not credited into the Consolidation fund of the State.
VI- Construction of Kitchen cum Store
a) Primary / 626.94 / 0.00 / 626.94 / 0 / 626.94 / During 2009-10, 3850 Kitchen-cum-Stores were constructed through convergence with State Plan.
b) U. Primary / 0.00 / 0.00 / 0.00 / 0.00 / 0.00
Total / 626.94 / 0.00 / 626.94 / 0.0 / 626.94
Grand Total / 2979.73 / 1937.36 / 4917.09 / 2943.59 / 1973.50
2.6 State budget provisions and expenditure in 2009-10 towards (a) reimbursement of Central Assistance (b) State contribution.
State Contribution = Rs 1350.12 lacs Expenditure = Rs 1126.28 lacs
2.7 System for release of funds provided under cooking costs (Central and State).
After seeking credit confirmation from State Finance Department the funds are released to Director School Education Kashmir/Jammu who in turn release these funds further to Chief Education Officers and thereafter, flow in favour of Zonal Education Officers and then to Schools for implementation of the scheme. Regarding State share funds are released by the State Planning Department directly in favour of District Development Commissioner’s under District Plan and same are then placed at the disposal of Chief Education Officers and then Chief Education Officers to Zonal Education Officers to School level. Both State/ Central assistance take the Treasury route.
2.8 System for procuring cooking ingredients (fuel, condiments, oil, etc.)
Arrangements are made locally and in case of any shortage District Administration intervenes on request by the District Chief Education Officer. The quantities of Dal, Oil, Vegetables, Salt etc. are procured locally. Some times Village Education Committees assist in such arrangements.
2.9 System for cooking serving and supervising mid day meals in the school
For each school, a Cook has been engaged at an Honorarium of Rs. 500.00 P.M which has now been raised to Rs 1000.00 per month for cooking and serving Mid-Day Meal to the students. For supervision of the said scheme, Village Education Committee and School Management Committee helps to implement the Scheme. For proper monitoring and over see implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme the following Committees are also constituted and monitoring needs to be emphasized:
i. At State level the committees headed by Chief Secretary.
ii. At Divisional level the committees headed by Div. Commissioner.
iii. At district level the committees headed by DDC concerned.
2.10 Status of construction of kitchen sheds from (i) funds released under the Mid Day Meal Scheme, and (ii) funds from other development programmes, such as SGRY etc.
An amount of Rs. 3052.20 lacs has been released by the Govt. of India during 2006-07 for construction of 5087 kitchen-cum-stores. The construction cost of Kitchen-cum-Store was rechecked and brought to Rs. 0.60 lacs after structural modifications. The work on these constructions was started in 2008-09, 4035 works stand completed, 18 are in progress and 1034 are yet to start under Primary stage and 728 Kitchen-cum-Stores were sanctioned at Upper Primary Stage which stand completed. 3920 additional Kitchen-cum-Stores were constructed by convergence with State Plan during 2009-10.
2.11 Status of procurement of kitchen device from (i) funds released under the Mid Day Meal Programme (ii) other sources.
An amount of Rs. 559.95 lacs have been released by Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India for procurement/replacement of Kitchen devices in 11199 schools during 2007-08. An amount of Rs. 557.63 lacs stands incurred ending March 2008 and 11165 schools have been covered. 728 Units were sanctioned during 2008-09 against which 689 units stand provided with devices. An amount of Rs 36.40 lacs were sanctioned against which Rs 34.45 lacs stand utilized ending March 2009. An amount of Rs 386.95 lacs were sanctioned during 2009-10 and an amount of Rs 348.20 lacs stand utilized. With this assistance, 5545 Primary Schools and 1419 Upper Primary Schools were benefitted.
2.12 Capacity building and training conducted for different categories of persons involved in the Mid Day Meal Programme under Programmes of SSA, DIETs etc.
Capacity building issues are being addressed under SSA and other Programmes. The cleanliness and maintenance of hygienic conditions is being emphasized during Teacher Training Programmes and also stressed during the course of inter actions on the subject with the students.
2.13 Management Information System at School, Village/Gram Panchayat, Block, District and State level.
So far as Management Information System is concerned 200 Zonal Education Officers are corresponding with 22 Dy Chief Education Officers and the information flows through the 2 Directorates to Secretary Education and thereafter is communicated to Ministry of HRD. In view of difficult geographical features no doubt communication gap remains, but for review purposes provisional information is collected telephonically which facilitates the system and at the end of March actual information is ensured for submission.
2.14 Systems to ensure transparency and openness in all aspects of programme implementation, including inter alia, foodgrain management, ingredients procurement, cooking and serving, appointment of cooking staff, construction of kitchen sheds, procurement of cooking device.
The Scheme is being implemented in right perspective. To ensure proper implementation and transparency Director School Education, Chief Education Officer, Dy. C.E.O, Z.E.O’s, Z.E.P.O’s and In-charge MDM of the School monitors the scheme with full zeal. Besides this, Village Education Committees in each school play role in the proper implementation of the scheme.
2.15 Measures taken to rectify mismatch / uneven;-
The main difficulty which took sometime in under standing is the problem of mis-match in the utilization of foodgrains as compared to utilization of cooking cost. It was observed that miss-match in these two sets of figures is mainly because of:-
i) Funds are being received by school institutions late with the result lifting of foodgrains is ensured free of cost first and cooking cost lagged behind.
ii) In the second phase after lifting of foodgrains if central assistance or state funds are not available school institutions start utilization of institutional funds till the central assistance is received. Since adequate funding is not available on this account, in terms of Institutional Development funds again uneven position gets created. This expenditure is not reflected in the Progress Report but only Central Assistance when received is reflected.
iii) Since the institutional funds are meager and can not cover beyond 15 to 20 days. School authorities (teacher concerned) some times borrow from the shopkeepers and take the supplies connected with cooking cost on credit. Again, uneven distribution of cooking cost and foodgrains consumption results.