Assessment of Micronutrient Intake of Primary School Children through Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic in India

Abstract

The planet is now suffering from COVID-19 pandemic. Since there is no vaccine available for this viral disease, a number of preventive measures including boosting immunity through nutrition have been gaining attention. As Government of India has recently increased the allocation of Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme to Rs 8,100 crore from Rs 7,300 crore to ensure the supply of food and nutrition to the beneficiaries amidst COVID-19 lockdown, a nutritional analysis of MDM offered in a rural school of West Tripura district, Tripura, India was performed to reveal that the diet lacks a number of micronutrients generally considered important for immunological function. The findings may help the competent authority for better decision making for usage of the enhanced budgetary allocation for MDM program under COVID-19 pandemic.