‘If I Go To School, Will You Give Me Food?’: The Question That Launched Mid-Day Meal Scheme In India – News18

Last Updated:February 01, 2025, 16:59 IST

Kamaraj, then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, introduced the mid-day meal program in the state in the 1960s, boosting literacy as well as improving children’s health. It all started with a child’s innocent yet compelling question…

Many statues of the late Kamaraj, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, stand tall across the state, serving as a reminder of his substantial contributions to the state’s education system. It was under his leadership as CM that Tamil Nadu’s literacy rate rose to 85% during that decade. His achievements in this area are fondly remembered by many. Following the death of then-prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he emerged as a significant figure in the political landscape of India during that era.

Kamaraj took over as the Chief Minister of Madras State on April 13, 1954. He brought in a policy of compulsory education, following which new schools were built. Uniforms were given free of cost to the students attending school. The curriculum was revised. Due to these works, Kamaraj became popular as the ‘Father of Education’.

Kamaraj was born into a business family. After the death of his father, his mother had to struggle to make ends meet. At the young age of 11, Kamaraj had to leave school to help his mother.

From that point onward, he hoped that no other children would have to leave school as he did and that every child should have the opportunity to attend school.

Kamaraj understood the crucial role that education plays in one’s life. However, during those times, education was often seen as a luxury for a poor family. In a household struggling to afford basic necessities, how could they possibly send their child to school? He then realised that by providing nutritious meals in schools once a day, many children would be encouraged to attend and pursue their studies.

Mid-Day Meals Boosted Attendance

After the introduction of the Mid-Day Meal School Scheme, he observed its effects and found them to be quite remarkable. In 1955, student attendance surged in Madras Municipal Schools and Harijan Welfare Schools because of this initiative. Children began coming in large numbers from Monday through Friday. However, on Saturdays, attendance dropped to around 50%, as schools operated only for half a day and no lunch was served.

Planning Commission Was Sceptical

When Kamaraj aimed to incorporate the Mid-Day Meal into the Second Five Year Plan (SFYP), he faced significant challenges. The Central Planning Commission did not view providing mid-day meals to all primary school students as feasible.

Nonetheless, Kamaraj was determined to see it through. He engaged in discussions with the Planning Commission officials to secure approval for the scheme’s implementation in the state. The gap between the available and required budget was Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million).

Despite this, Kamaraj was prepared to introduce a new tax to fund the mid-day meal program. After considerable negotiation, the mid-day meal initiative was successfully included in the SFYP for financial support. The plan also received approval from the Tamil Nadu legislature.

Origins In Tirunelveli District

An announcement concerning the scheme was made on March 27, 1955. The mid-day meal programme was launched in Ettayapuram in Tirunelveli district on July 17, 1956. Starting November 1, 1957, the Kamaraj government broadened the initiative to include an increasing number of primary schools with assistance from the central government.

Initially, the government provided only 10 paise per child, and local authorities were expected to contribute 5 paise, which mostly did not occur. As a result, it became necessary to rely on volunteer contributions to maintain the programme consistently.

Kamaraj made extensive travels across the state, addressing the public during conferences, meetings, and personal interactions. He emphasized the urgent need for the mid-day meal scheme’s implementation in schools, highlighting that feeding the children in one’s community is a personal social duty.

Committees Established to Manage Mid-Day Meals

Local residents organised and created committees in every school to efficiently utilise the funds and resources. The headmasters of the schools typically served as the non-member secretaries of these committees. The local groups were responsible for covering the entire expense of items such as utensils.

Through Kamaraj’s initiative, around 20 lakh primary school students from Classes 1 to 8 received meals for 200 days each year. The students enjoyed a tasty meal of cooked rice accompanied by sambar, buttermilk, or curd, along with pickle.

Assistance from an American Organisation

Beginning in July 1961, the ‘Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere’ (CARE) decided to support the government’s mid-day meal programme. This organisation began providing financial assistance and supplying food resources such as milk powder, cooking oil, wheat, rice, and other nutritional products.

Successful Within Five Years

While initially perceived as a populist measure, the mid-day meal scheme gained traction as school enrolment and attendance increased. Eventually, the central government started to provide support. In just five years, the initiative proved successful. From 1957 to 1963, the scheme’s costs rose 17-fold, leading to a six-fold increase in the number of beneficiaries.

Largest Food Programme Globally

Kamaraj’s mid-day meal scheme achieved notable success. Actor-politician MG Ramachandran further expanded it during his time as Chief Minister in 1982. The central government later adopted it, leading to its implementation in other states across the country. It is now recognised as the world’s largest school feeding programme, serving 11 crore children in 12 lakh schools.

Impact of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme

• Enhancement of Children’s Nutrition: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has elevated the nutritional status of children attending Anganwadis. They regularly receive nutritious food that supports their physical and mental growth.
• Boost in Attendance: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has driven up attendance rates at Anganwadi centres. Parents are motivated to enrol their children at Anganwadis due to the availability of free meals.
• Reduced Dropout Rate: Children from low-income families, who were previously kept out of school, became increasingly regular to their classes as the programme ensured they receive at least one nutritious meal daily. The dropout rate significantly decreased. Overall, children’s health and educational outcomes improved.
• Promotion of Social Inclusion: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has created opportunities for children from various castes and communities to eat together, thereby encouraging social cohesion and helped to some extent in breaking down caste barriers in the minds of youth.
• Support for Women: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has also been beneficial for women, providing them with job opportunities in meal preparation and serving.

Location :

Tamil Nadu, India, India