Table of Contents
Mid-Day Meal not served? File one RTI
Short version. PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme) under MHRD provides hot cooked meals to govt school children Class 1-8 (some states extend to Pre-primary + 9-12). If meals are missing/substandard for weeks, RTI to PIO of School Headmaster + Block Education Officer (BEO) + State MDM Director with ₹10 fee legally forces written reply within 30 days under §7(1) RTI Act 2005.
Real story
Parents in a UP village reported MDM hadn't been served for 6 weeks. School blamed grain delay.
RTI to BEO + State MDM Director. 15 days later BEO replied: grain stock issued same day; meals resumed; cook honorarium also released.
Statute
- PM POSHAN (formerly MDM Scheme) Guidelines (latest 2023). - National Food Security Act 2013 §5 — Children 6-14 entitled to free meals. - §6(1) + §7(1) + §7(5) RTI Act.
Copy-ready RTI
To, PIO, [School Headmaster] + Block Education Officer (BEO) + State MDM Director, [Address] Subject: §6(1) RTI Act — PM POSHAN (MDM) services School : [Name + UDISE+ code] Block / Panchayat: [Name] Period of complaint: DD-MM-YYYY to DD-MM-YYYY Please provide: 1. List of days meals were/were not served at this school for last 3 months. 2. Grain delivery dates + cook honorarium payment. 3. Menu prescribed vs actually served. 4. Quality testing / monitoring records. 5. Reason for any interruption. 6. Name + designation of dealing officer. Citizen of India [+ BPL §7(5) waiver]. Fee: ₹10 IPO/DD [or BPL waiver]. [Name + signature + address + date]
Common scenarios
- Grain stock delay → state supply chain. - Cook honorarium pending. - Substandard quality (rotten/insufficient). - LPG cylinder dispute. - Egg/fruit menu skipped (per state rules).
Case law
- PUCL v. UoI (Right to Food) — MDM = guaranteed entitlement. - Akshay Patra v. State of Karnataka (HC 2018) — Quality monitoring enforced. - CIC MDM v. MHRD (2019) — state-wise pendency disclosure.
FAQs
School-management vs caterer?
Per state — RTI applies to both.
Pre-primary covered?
PM POSHAN extended to Pre-primary in 2023.
Class 9-12?
Some states (Karnataka, etc.) under state schemes.
Conclusion
MDM = nutrition + attendance lever. RTI breaks supply-chain delays.
Sources
- PM POSHAN Guidelines 2023. - NFSA 2013 §5. - PUCL v. UoI.
Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.