AN EARLY START, Pg10.

Key Highlights:

• Several states and UTs propose extending the PM-Poshan scheme to include breakfast in government and government-aided schools.
• The National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes the productivity of morning hours after a nutritious breakfast.
• Tamil Nadu's breakfast program, launched in 2022, reached 24 lakh students, improving attendance and health.
• The Centre estimates the additional cost of a nationwide breakfast rollout at around Rs 6,000 crore annually.

Detailed Insights:

• The proposal signifies a welcome alignment of national policy with nutritional and educational realities, recognizing that learning begins with the first meal.
• Studies show that a morning meal boosts continuity of nutrition while lifting attendance, attention and equity in classrooms.
• In addition to the seven states/UTs, 11 others, including Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Meghalaya, have asked for the scheme to be extended to students up to Class XII.
• Framing the breakfast initiative as an investment in education, health, and inclusive growth is crucial for its national success.
• Effective implementation requires careful attention to logistics, including kitchen infrastructure, supply chains, hygiene, and nutritional guidelines.
• Addressing the strain on those who sustain the midday-meal network, such as Anganwadi and ASHA workers, is vital for the program's success.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM-Poshan: A centrally-sponsored scheme to enhance the nutritional status of school-age children.
• National Education Policy 2020: A comprehensive framework to transform education in India.
• Anganwadi Workers: Frontline health workers providing basic healthcare services in rural areas.
• ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists): Community health workers creating awareness on health and its determinants.