RESEARCH: MID-DAY MEALS

[Introduction] [Survey Questionnaires] [Survey Guidelines] [Findings]

Survey Questionnaires 

There are six survey questionnaires:

State: This questionnaire collects basic information on the coverage of mid-day meal schemes within the state, the different departments involved and their respective roles, allocations and offtake of grain, the costs involved, and how they are met.

District: This questionnaire collects more detailed information on the extent and costs of mid-day meal schemes within the district, as well as information on how the district administration coordinates with administrations at the State and block level.

Village Education Committee (VEC): VECs provide a way for local communities to be involved in the operation of schools. They are intended to help communities monitor the attendance of teachers and students, contribute services to the school, and encourage parents to send their children to school and to keep them there. This questionnaire collects information on the constitution of the VEC, the role it plays in the mid-day meal scheme, and on whether the scheme has led to caste disputes.

Teacher: This questionnaire collects information on how mid-day meal schemes are run at the school level, with details about the menu, the quality and quantity of grain supplied, logistics and infrastructure, and crucially, whether or not mid-day meals interrupt the classroom process. It also collects information on the effect of mid-day meals on school enrollment, absenteeism, and caste barriers.

Cooks: This questionnaire collects information from cooks on food preparation and distribution. It includes questions about how the cook was appointed, as well as their caste, marital status, and salary. This information can be used to verify that State guidelines have been followed during the appointment process.

Parents: Since mid-day meals are aimed at young children in primary schools, parents are likely to be a more reliable source of information on well the scheme works. This questionnaire asks parents whether they are satisfied with the quality of food and the infrastructure through which it is delivered, and whether they believe the scheme has made a difference to their children. It also elicits parental attitudes on matters relating to caste.

There is an additional investigator questionnaire, used to record the investigator's overall assessment of how well the mid-day meal scheme is functioning, on the basis of observations made during the survey process.