Mid-Day Meal

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What is a Mid-Day Meal?

A mid-day meal is a nutritious school lunch provided to children studying in government and government-aided schools in India under the PM POSHAN (Poshan Shakti Nirman) initiative—previously known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. This programme aims to enhance children’s nutritional status while supporting their education.

In November 2001, the Supreme Court of India mandated that:
“State governments and union territories must provide every child in every government and government-assisted primary school with a prepared mid-day meal.”

The Mid-Day Meal initiative has played a crucial role in:

  • Increasing school enrolment

  • Enhancing attendance

  • Reducing classroom hunger

  • Improving concentration among students

  • Lowering school drop-out rates

  • Addressing child malnutrition

  • Empowering women through employment opportunities

  • Promoting social inclusion among children

Implementation of PM POSHAN / Mid-Day Meal Scheme

No child should have to choose between food and education. Guided by this belief, the Recall Social Foundation implements the PM POSHAN initiative to support children’s nutrition and academic growth.

The objective of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (now PM POSHAN) is to provide wholesome meals to school-going children. Initially, implementing this programme across a vast nation like India posed significant challenges.

The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) 2006 Guidelines advised the Government to involve local communities and build strong public–private partnerships.
Following these guidelines, the Government of India began collaborating with not-for-profit organisations such as the Recall Social Foundation to deliver mid-day meals efficiently and reliably.

According to the Karnataka Human Development Report 2005:

“The recognition of voluntary agencies in partnering with Government initiatives by the Centre influenced the Government of Karnataka to include several NGOs in major government-sponsored programmes.”

Karnataka became the first state to involve NGOs in providing mid-day meals to schoolchildren. This collaboration improved cooperation between agencies and enhanced programme design and management at all administrative levels.

By involving NGOs in the school feeding programme, the Government of Karnataka significantly improved the initiative’s efficiency and effectiveness. This successful public–private partnership became a model for the entire nation, enabling India to leverage private-sector capabilities for public welfare.

Today, PM POSHAN is one of the world’s largest school lunch programmes, reaching over 11.80 crore children across 11.20 lakh schools (as per 2021–22 data), ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food and quality education.

Mid-Day Meal Menu

The Mid-Day Meal Rules, 2015 state that every child aged 6–14 years attending classes I–VIII must receive a nutritious meal free of charge on all school days.
These meals must meet the prescribed nutritional standards:

  • Classes I–V: 450 calories & 12g protein

  • Classes VI–VIII: 700 calories & 20g protein

The Recall Foundation designs its mid-day meal menu with careful consideration of:

  • Government PM POSHAN guidelines

  • Regional taste and food habits

  • Nutritional value

  • Taste and flavour

  • Local ingredient availability

  • Seasonal produce

To ensure that meals are both nutritious and culturally appropriate, the Recall Social Foundation uses a variety of locally available grains, vegetables, and spices. Due to regional preferences, dishes like Sukhdi in Gujarat, Dalma in Odisha, and Bisibelebath in Karnataka are served across different states.

Sample Menu – Bengaluru, Karnataka

(You may provide the menu details here.)