Social Audit of P M Poshan Scheme
Meenakshi Rajeev , Shafkat Dar and Karan Nathwani
India has implemented various nutrition-centric and nutrition-sensitive programs to address malnutrition and promote better health outcomes. Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is one of the foremost rights-based Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented in partnership with the States and UTs for providing one hot cooked and nutritious meal to all children up to class VIII of Government and Government-aided schools. The PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme, earlier known as the ‘National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools’ Scheme, was introduced in 2021. The UT of J & K also adopted this scheme and reaped the benefits of the scheme. To understand the functioning of the scheme in the entire ten districts of Jammu region, IIT Jammu, HSS Department, has undertaken a social audit study led by Prof. Meenakshi Rajeev , Dr Shafkat Dar and Dr Karan Nathwani with the support of the Directorate of PM Poshan of the UT. The study covers all the ten districts of the Jammu Province. A Social Audit is a systematic process through which the implementation, performance, and outcomes of a public programme or scheme are examined with the active involvement of stakeholders.