PM POSHAN Scheme (Erstwhile PM POSHAN Scheme)

PM POSHAN Scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which serves hot cooked meal to school children studying in Classes I-VIII of Government, Government aided schools, Special Training centres (STC) and Madarasas and Maktabs supported under Samagra Shiksha.

The PM POSHAN guidelines envisage to provide cooked meal with 450 calories and 12 g of protein to every child at primary level and 700 calories and 20g of protein at upper primary level. This energy and protein requirement for a primary child comes from cooking 100g of rice/flour, 20g pulses and 50g vegetables and 5g oil, and for an upper primary child it comes from 150g of rice/flour, 30g of pulses and 75g of vegetables and 7.5g of oil.

PM POSHAN Scheme in J&K: With a view to enhance enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children, the flagship scheme of PM POSHAN in Schools was started in 2004. Separate Directorate for PM POSHAN Scheme has been established during the year 2018 by the then Government of Jammu and Kashmir State.

Objectives of the Scheme:

  • Improving the nutritional status of children in classes I – VIII in Government, Local Body , Government aided schools, EGS and AIE centers.
  • Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them to concentrate on classroom activities.
  • Providing nutritional support to children of primary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.

S.No. Items Primary Upper Primary
1. Food grains (Rice) 100 gms 150 gms
2. Pulses 20 gms 30 gms
3. Vegetables 50 gms 75 gms
4. Oil and Fats 5 gms 7.5 gms
5. Proteins content 12 gms 20 gms
6. Calories 450 calories 700 calories

BEST PRACTICES:

QUALITY TESTING & MONITORING:Lifting of Samples by Food & Drugs Control Department on random basis.(380 Samples were lifted during 2023-24 and found fit). In 2024-25, 457 Samples stand lifted till Sept., 2024.Matri Bhojan Yojana Implemented- Mothers of the children visit schools to supervise the preparation and check the quality of Meal served in schools on daily basis. Moreover, taste the food being given to children (12,507 Mothers paid visit in Schools till 9/2024).

School Nutrition Garden(SNG):10,635 SNGs have been established till now in THE UT of J&K and 2500 number of SNG are under process..As per Ministry of Education guidelines, all schools are supposed to have school nutrition garden so that the students should get hand on experience regarding kitchen gardening and also enjoy the taste of fresh vegetables during meals in the schools.

Social Audit:Social Audit of 100 % Schools under PM POSHAN Scheme stand conducted through members of PRIs/ULBs in the year 2022-23 & 2023-24. Social Audit of PM POSHAN for 2024-25 has been initiated.

Tithi Bhojan:During the Tithi Bhojan Celebration, 1720 schools with 34290 children participated in it and 19,670 children were provided special meal on special occasions.

Fortified rice (Off take & its utilization):Out of allotted food grains of 11147.65 Mts for 1st & 2nd quarter, 11469.92 MTs stand lifted by the field functionaries and 11408.67 MTs have been utilized.

Training of Cook Cum helpers:Capacity Building of Cook cum helpers is being done after regular intervals.

School Health Checkup:Health Checkup of School children is being done regularly. 418432 children screened till date.Iron Folic Acid Tablets have been given to children.All Out of school children were also provided Iron and Folic Acid tablets.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN-through AKSHAY PATRA (NGO):MoU stands signed for setting up Centralized kitchen at two Locations i.e PS Dharap(Zone Satwari of District Jammu) & Village Sirla Bagga of District Reasi). Meals under PM POSHAN shall be served through Community Kitchens in Municipal limits shortly.

AADHAR Coverage:92.89 % Students have been given AADHAR.