KEY TRENDS

• The MDMS was initiated in 1995, but most states were providing only monthly “dry rations” until the Court intervened. On 28 November 2002 the Supreme Court ordered that cooked meals be provided to children###

• The MDMS was revised and universalized in September 2004 and central assistance was provided at the rate of Re. 1.00 per child per school day for converting food grains into hot cooked meals for children in classes I–V in government, local body, and government-aided schools#

• The number of children covered under MDMS has increased from 3.34 crore in 3.22 lakh schools in 1995 to 12 crore in 9.5 lakh primary schools/ EGS (education guarantee scheme) centres in 2006–07#

• Rice allocation in MDMS has increased from 18.67 lakh tonnes in 2001-02 to 21.48 lakh tonnes in 2008-09. Wheat allocation has declined from 9.96 lakh tonnes in 2001-02 to 4.78 lakh tonnes in 2008-09##

• Rice offtake as a percentage of rice allocation has increased from 72 percent in 2001-02 to 74 percent in 2008-09. Wheat offtake as a percentage of wheat allocation has increased from 73 percent in 2001-02 to 91 percent in 2008-09##     

• The audit of the implementation of the scheme countrywide displayed weak internal controls and monitoring. The provisions for programme evaluation and regular monitoring and inspections in the scheme design, were not effectively followed nor the results analysed for review of errors and introduction of changes on the basis of lessons learnt@

• Audit of the implementation of the scheme in the states disclosed leakages, deficient infrastructure, delayed release of funds and inflated transportation costs etc@

• Many instances of the teachers spending considerable teaching time in supervising the cooking and serving of meals were noticed, resulting in loss of teaching hours@

# Planning Commission (2007): Chapter 1: Education, Government of India,
http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th
/11_v2/11v2_ch1.pdf
 

## Department of Food and Public Distribution,
http://fcamin.nic.in/dfpd/EventDetails.asp?EventId=152&
;Section=Welfare%20Schemes&ParentID=0&Parent=1&
;check=0

### Khera, Reetika (2009): Right to Food Act: Beyond Cheap Promises, 18 July, Economic and Political Weekly

@ Performance audit report on MDMS by the Comptroller and Auditor General (2008), http://cag.gov.in/html/reports/civil/2008_PA13_MDMscivil/h
ighlights.pdf