Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman - DNH&DD

The PM POSHAN Scheme, launched nationwide in 2021 by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, is implemented in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu through the Department of Education. The scheme continues the earlier Mid-Day Meal Programme, aiming to provide hot, cooked, nutritious meals to children enrolled in government and government-aided schools. It seeks to enhance child nutrition, promote regular school attendance, and support overall academic performance. Under the scheme, eligible children from Balvatika, Primary (I–V), and Upper Primary (VI–VIII) receive freshly prepared meals on all school working days. The meals are designed to meet prescribed nutritional norms, ensuring adequate calorie intake and essential nutrients for healthy growth. PM POSHAN also includes provisions for food safety, quality monitoring, kitchen devices, infrastructure strengthening, and community participation to ensure effective implementation. The scheme particularly benefits children from economically and socially disadvantaged families, helping reduce classroom hunger and improve retention. In DNH&DD, the Directorate of Education oversees planning, fund allocation, meal preparation standards, and monitoring through school-level committees (SMCs). Through its holistic approach, PM POSHAN aims to boost children’s health, reduce malnutrition, and create an enabling environment for better learning outcomes.