1. MDM in KERALA C. Gasper Centre for Development Studies Thiruvananthapuram Kerala1

2. 40 schools in each district
DATA
Study period:
April to September, 2011
Districts: Kollam
Kottayam,
Kozhicode &
Thiruvananthapuram
40 schools in each district 2

3. 1. REGULARITY IN SERVING MEAL All schools give hot cooked meal No interruption – exam period –no.  2. TRENDS   Ignorable difference between: class enrolment & enrolment for MDM, children attended school on ‘day of visit & children actually availed meals children availing MDM as per MDM register & children availed MDM on previous day No Centralized kitchen. 3

4.  3. DELIVERY OF FOOD GRAINS Food grains are supplied regularly No delay Buffer stock is maintained Quality of food grains is good. 4. COOKING COST Payment of cooking cost is regular, in installments – PTA account Cook & helper: appointed, poor salary, paid regularly. 4

5. 5. SOCIAL EQUITY No discrimination: gender-caste-community in cooking, serving, seating arrangement 6. VARIETY OF MENU Menu – weekly -is available Prepared after consulting PTA & VEC Provides for variety of food: cooked rice + a curry +a side dish. In addition, a cup of hot milk twice in a week; -a boiled egg twice in a week; -a banana once in a week. 5

6. 8. QUALITY & QUANTITY OF MEAL
Quality & quantity of meal are satisfactory
schools: quantity of rice is not required
Particularly girls do not eat that much
It is also observed- children do waste food.
9. SUPPLEMENTARY
Free health check-up once in a year.
health personnel - local PHC visits
no micronutrients (Iron, folic acid, vitamin-A)
no de-worming medicine, No Health Card
10. STATUS OF COOKS
Cooks & helpers are from poor, women 6

7. 11. INFRASTRUCTURE Many kitchens require maintenance
All schools have potable water,
purified water/ hot water in classrooms
Cooking utensils are adequate
Sufficient plates & tumblers are available
Firewood is mainly used in cooking,
Gas for boiling milk
Large cooking - would prefer gas based 7

8. Cooking is quite safe & hygiene Fire extinguishers are available.
12. SAFETY & HYGIENE
Cooking is quite safe & hygiene
Fire extinguishers are available.
Children wash hands before & after eating
Conserve water too
Distribution of food & dining are done in orderly manner 8

9. 13. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION-AWARENESS
Good relationship bet. school & LSG
& local community
Parents visit school regularly & monitor MDM
They support cook & helper
Members of LSG monitor MDM - no specific roster
Parents, members of VEC & LSG have full knowledge
gathered from other villagers, relatives, teachers & schools
To them: Quantity & types of nutrients in MDM 9

10. 14. INSPECTION & SUPERVISION
14. INSPECTION & SUPERVISION
Inspected by district officials
Some of them recorded their observations
Co-ordination of supervision – SSA officials
15. IMPACT
Improved students’ daily attendance
It is functioning very well & smoothly
because of involvement of the parents &
members of the VEC & PRI 10

11. B. Any other issues relevant to MDM implementation MDM is functioning well Schools request for grinder, Mixie Salary for cooks – more work –buying, cutting vegetables - kitchen gardening: LP school grant ` maintenance, conversion of old buildings into dining halls – old furniture –to dining tables – -standard kitchen+store – less smoke 11