A Study of Mid-day Meal Scheme Implementation in Nalgonda District for Improving School Attendance

The erstwhile State Government of Andhra Pradesh launched the cooked Mid- Day Meal (MDM) Programme in 2003 to all primary school children in Government, local body and Government Aided Schools. The State is also implementing the MDM scheme in the high schools covering students of 9th and 10th classes from 2008 with the State budget. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) is being implemented by the Department of School Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh in the State. The researcher studied schools of three mandals (Nadigudem, Munagala and Kodad) in Nalgonda district of A.P by using normative survey method. Students, teachers and head teachers responded to this research study. The researcher selected 'stratified random method' for sampling. The present study consists of a total of 12 schools from three mandals. The study found that majority of the schools are receiving poor quality of rice from the government; there is no safe drinking water for MDM, no proper distribution of bills, lack of training for administrators. The enrolment and attendance improved and classroom hunger avoided due to MDM programme.