March 26, 2025
Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen’s Zero Hour mention on the need to reconsider the advisory of reducing cooking oil in mid-day meals under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN)
Thank you, Chairman, Sir, for giving me opportunity to speak on my Zero Hour submission on need to urgently reconsider our advisory to reduce cooking oil in Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The Union Government has issued an advisory recommending a 10 per cent reduction in cooking oil uses in Mid-Day Meal Scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme, aiming to combat childhood obesity. While addressing obesity is important, Sir, this directive may not consider the diverse nutritional needs of children across the country. Many students relying on Mid-Day Meal come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds where malnutrition, rather than obesity, is prevalent. Healthy fats from cooking oils are essential for growth and cognitive development. A blanket reduction could inadvertently deprive these children of necessary nutrients. Moreover, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on meal quality. Reducing oil content might lead to the use of lower quality ingredients or dilution methods using water, compromising both taste and nutritional value. Stakeholders have criticized the advisory as unscientific, calling for a comprehensive nutritional assessment before implementing such measures. Additionally, the advisory lacks empirical data supporting the correlation between current oil uses in mid-day meal and rising obesity rates among school children. Without such evidence, policy changes may be misguided and potentially harmful. Given these concerns, it is imperative that the Government reevaluates the advisory. A thorough evidence-based study should be conducted to assess the nutritional implications of reducing cooking oil in Mid-Day Meals. Policies should be tailored to address regional health changes, ensuring that interventions are aligned to the realities on the ground and not averse to them. NR, ह@ NBzKi हE per student/per child funding aB ÜnPGP zPFहyÉ I urge upon the Union Government that it may be taken up on a serious note and the advisory may be revoked, so that the children from downtrodden families, who are large in numbers and comprise majority of our population, may get their rights as per law. Thank you, Sir.
