Mid Day Meal Scheme

The Midday meal scheme refers to the programme introduced in all government elementary schools to provide children with cooked lunch.

Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to introduce this scheme.In 2001 the Supreme Court asked all state goverments to begin this programme in their schools.

Due to this scheme more poor children have begun enrolling and regularly attending school.Teachers reported that earlier children would often go home for lunch and then not return to school but now with the midday meal being provided in school,their attendence has improved.Their mothers who earlier had to interrupt their work to feed their children at home are no longer need to do so.This programme has also helped reduce caste prejudices because both lower and upper caste children in the school eat this meal together.The midday meal programme also help reduce the hunger of the poor students who often come to school and cannot concentrate because their stomachs are empty.