National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools (MDMS) is a flagship programme of the Government of India aiming at enhancing enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children studying in Government, Local Body and Government-aided primary and upper primary schools and the Centres run under Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS)/Alternative & Innovative Education (AIE) and National Children Labour Project (NCLP) schools of all areas across the country. MDM is also served in drought-affected areas during summer vacation also.
Mid Day Meal Scheme envisages supply of adequate quantities of micro nutrients such as iron, folic acid, zinc and these micro nutrients are to be supplemented through convergence with the school health and other programmes of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for this, no budgetary support is provided under the Mid Day meal scheme. These appropriate supplementations are provided depending on common deficiencies found only in the local areas to the target beneficiary group.