The current status of the mid-day meal (MDM) programme in Dimapur shows significant engagement and impact. A total of 109 government schools participate in the MDM programme in the state, of which 88 schools manage their meals through their own kitchens, while 21 schools utilise a common kitchen for meal preparation.
In Dimapur (Urban), 41 schools participate in the MDM programme, with 21 managed by Common Kitchen, an NGO, and 20 by individual school kitchens. Cooks receive an honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month for 10 months a year. The government provides dry rations like rice and pulses, and funds for other cooking ingredients.
The school committee, SMC member and the district MDM committee monitor the MDM programme at different levels, ensuring compliance and quality.
Senior sub-divisional education officer (SDEO) Jolly, who is also the MDM coordinator, informed Nagaland Post that most students in these schools came from low-income families, making it difficult for parents to provide lunch for their children. She claimed the MDM programme alleviated this burden, ensuring students received a daily meal, leading to increased attendance, better retention rates, and a reduction in dropouts.
She said primary students received meals with 450 calories and 12 grams of protein, while upper primary students received meals with 700 calories and 20 grams of protein, which also included essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamins. As many students come from marginalised backgrounds, the MDM programme provided them one nutritious meal a day, which included rice, dal, potatoes, soya chunks, and onions through hygienic preparation, ensuring balanced nutrition. And in case, where this was not possible, juices and snacks were provided as alternatives, she stated.
Referring to the quality of meals, she mentioned that each school had an MDM committee comprising of three to four teachers for supervision and monitoring, which ensure cleanliness, food safety, and hygiene standards, with regular inspections by school authorities and managing committee members.
Jolly said that the MDM programme had helped maintain the students’ health, ensuring they stay in school without the distraction of hunger.
However, she lamented that because of low honorariums, the MDM cooks were often irregular in work.
“There is a need for better infrastructure such as MDM kitchens, dining halls with running water, and handwash stations to enhance hygiene and the dining experience,” she emphasized.
She disclosed that many schools had initiated kitchen gardens to grow organic vegetables, ensuring pesticide-free and nutritious food, besides providing agricultural learning experiences for students.
She mentioned that nutrition education was being integrated into the curriculum to teach healthy eating habits and the importance of a balanced diet.
The SDEO further stated that the MDM programme helped many poor families by ensuring that their children received at least one full meal a day, reducing economic strain and allowing parents to focus on earning a living.
She expressed gratefulness towards the community as the kitchen sheds were often repaired with community assistance, while teachers helped with food distribution and supervision. She said the stakeholders’ engagement ensured the programme’s success through dedicated service beyond monetary incentives. Despite several challenges, she claimed the schools strived to serve hot cooked meals every day.
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