Evaluating the Nutritional Outcomes of the PM POSHAN Scheme among Tribal Students in Eastern India

Abstract

The PM POSHAN Scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, represents one of the largest school nutrition programmes in the world and plays a significant role in addressing child malnutrition and educational inequality in India. This study evaluates the nutritional outcomes of the PM POSHAN Scheme among tribal students in Eastern India, with special reference to tribal-dominated regions of Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The article adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining anthropology, nutrition studies, and public policy analysis to examine the effectiveness of the scheme in improving child nutrition, school attendance, and educational participation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used, including field observations, interviews, focus group discussions, and analysis of secondary data such as NFHS-5 reports and government documents. The findings indicate that the PM POSHAN Scheme has positively contributed to reducing classroom hunger, increasing school attendance, and improving nutritional intake among tribal children. However, significant challenges continue to affect the implementation and effectiveness of the programme in remote tribal areas. These include irregular food supply, poor infrastructure, lack of dietary diversity, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient incorporation of indigenous tribal food systems into school menus. The study further highlights that socio-economic marginalization, ecological change, and cultural food practices strongly influence nutritional outcomes among tribal communities. The article argues that successful nutritional interventions in tribal regions require culturally sensitive, community-based, and region-specific approaches rather than standardized policy implementation. The study is contemporarily relevant in the context of India’s ongoing efforts toward inclusive development, food security, child welfare, and educational equity. It also emphasizes the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and local food diversity into public nutrition programmes for sustainable tribal development.