Context: The Maharashtra government has withdrawn ₹50 crore funding for eggs and millet-based dishes in the Mid-Day Meal (PM-POSHAN) scheme, raising concerns over child nutrition and malnourishment.
About Role of Egg in Nutrition for School Students:
- High Protein Source: Provides 6 gm of protein per egg, helping meet the 12-20 gm daily protein requirement under the National Food Security Act (2013).
- Rich in Micronutrients: Contains Vitamin D, B12, Iron, and Choline, essential for brain development and immunity.
- Combatting Malnutrition: Helps address stunting (36%) and underweight cases (35%) among children in Maharashtra (NITI Aayog, 2019).
Impact of Removing Eggs from Midday Meals
- Increased Nutritional Deficiency: Removal deprives children of essential proteins and vitamins, leading to growth issues and cognitive delays.
- Worsening Malnourishment: Maharashtra’s child nutrition indicators remain stagnant since 2015-16, making the cutback detrimental to progress.
- Financial Burden on Families: Eggs are costly for low-income groups, especially amid 8%+ food inflation (2023-24, NSO data).
- Equity in Nutrition: With 16 other states providing eggs, Maharashtra’s move creates inequality in child nutrition across India.
- Contradiction to Government Policies: PM-POSHAN aims to improve food security, yet the cut contradicts the program’s objectives.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
- GS Paper 2 – Governance & Welfare Schemes:
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- Mid-Day Meal Scheme & PM-POSHAN: Centrally Sponsored Scheme where 60% funds come from the Centre, 40% from States.
- Right to Food & National Food Security Act (2013): Legal obligation of government to ensure minimum nutritional intake.
- GS Paper 3 – Health & Nutrition
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- Malnutrition Concerns: Direct impact on stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence.
- Role of Diet in Public Health: Impact of micronutrient deficiency on cognitive and physical development.
- Ethics (GS Paper 4)
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- Ethical Responsibility of the State: The government’s moral duty to ensure food security and children’s well-being.
