Why do Telangana students opt out of mid-day meals? – Times of India
A recent Programme Approval Board (PAB) meeting for the PM-POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) scheme for the year 2024-25, conducted by the Union Ministry of Education, highlighted that 32% of students in Telangana have been opting out of the mid-day meals served in government and local body schools.What is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme, launched in 1995, is a government initiative aimed at providing free, nutritious meals to school children.It covers students from government, government-aided, and local body schools. The scheme’s key objectives are:Improve nutrition among school-going childrenIncrease school attendance by incentivizing enrollment and retentionSupport children in drought-affected areas by ensuring consistent food supplyThe Alarming Case of TelanganaStatistics fr...