AGRA: Central government has made a 5.35 percent increment in conversion cost under the National Program of Mid Day Meal in Schools (NP-MDMS). Revised rate of cooking cost for primary stage (class 1 to 5) is Rs 4.35 per child. And Rs 6.51 for upper primary (class 6 to 8). In this regard, department of school education and literacy, union ministry of human resources development has issued a letter to principal secretaries and education authorities of all states and union territories.“I am directed to say that it has been decided with the approval of competent authority to increase the cooking cost under the National Programme of Midday Meal in schools, by 5.35% with effect from April 1, 2018, for the year 2018-19 over and above the existing cooking cost. The cooking cost will be shared between the Centre and the states in the ratio of 60:40 for non-north eastern region (NER) states and UTs with legislature, 100% for UTs without legislatures and 90:10 for NER states and three Himalayan states — Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand,” read the order issued by G Vijaya Bhaskar, director, midday meal.The conversion cost of the midday meal until now was Rs 4.13 and Rs 6.18, respectively. After the increase, the cost is Rs 4.35 and Rs 6.51, respectively for primary and upper primary school students.The order further stated, “The above cooking cost rates indicate the minimum mandatory contribution by the Centre and state governments/UTs. However, states/UTs may contribute more than their prescribed share as some states/UTs have been contributing more than their minimum mandatory share from their own resources for providing meals with better nutrition under the midday meal scheme.”Midday meal scheme was started in 2001 by the central government with a view to enhancing enrolment, retention and attendance in government primary schools and simultaneously improving nutritional level among children. Under the scheme, a student of any government or government-aided primary schools has to be served a meal with a minimum content of 300 calories of energy and 8-12 gram of protein a day for a minimum of 200 days.Talking with TOI, basic shiksha adhikari of Agra Anand Prakash Sharma said, “The cooking cost in UP covers cost of pulses, vegetables, cooking oil, condiments and LPG. Food grains, including wheat and rice, are not covered under the cooking cost and are provided by the Food Corporation of India.”District president of the primary teachers association, Brajesh Dixit said, “Increase in the cooking cost under the MDM scheme is a welcome move. It will help in ensuring standard quality of meal is provided to children on a daily basis. Soon, we are going to raise a demand with the state government to increase rates for purchasing fruit and milk provided to children under the midday meal scheme.”

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