The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is usually associated with the infrastructure sector, where investments are huge and therefore the Government partners with private sector companies to make projects economically viable. Lately, however, it has also become popular in other sectors.
In the education sector, for example, the Government has partnered with Non-Governmental Organizations to implement the Midday Meal Scheme (MDMS), the Government of India’s ambitious school lunch program, as part of which a nutritious meal it is provided to more than 100 million school children every day.
How non-governmental organizations enter the scene
Now, implementing MDMS has been nothing short of a herculean task for state governments, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering it’s the largest school lunch program in the world. Therefore, to make it viable, several state governments have forged an alliance with non-profit organizations with strong financial and logistical credentials.
Many state governments in India have partnered with a non-profit organization to provide lunches to school children. There are many well-known non-profit organizations in India that are helping states implement the ambitious program.
How the partnership between government and non-governmental organizations is improving the midday meal program
The partnership system between the Government and Non-Governmental Organizations has helped several states to solve MDMS problems. Previously, teachers were tasked with preparing lunches, so they could not concentrate on their main role, that is, teaching. Now that nonprofits are taking care of the cooking part, teachers don’t have to worry about it. Also, as cooking is now done in centralized kitchens away from school facilities, the possibility of mishaps has been ruled out, making the facilities safer for children.
There are several areas where it has helped make a positive impact, no doubt, but the most important benefit of NGOs joining the Government is the fact that it has helped the latter reach more children.
That does not mean that the Government is a passive spectator. It contributes by providing land for the construction of kitchens, delivering food grains and even helps Non-Governmental Organizations to raise funds by introducing provisions such as the 100% tax deduction. (Also, in several areas, it helps schools run their own lunchrooms.)
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy, framed in the New Business Law of 2013, has also come as a blessing in disguise for this program. This policy obliges ‘qualified companies’ to spend at least 2% of their average net profit of the previous 3 financial years on CSR initiatives to facilitate socio-economic development.
This has made it easier for non-governmental organizations to raise funds for both sustainability and expansion.
It also means that more attention can be paid to food quality by using funds to purchase the latest technology. State-of-the-art food laboratories are now used to control food quality and ensure basic food safety standards.
The participation of Non-Governmental Organizations in the implementation of this program has not only helped to improve the quality of the meals served, but has also provided the opportunity to encourage community participation; the latter through fundraising, volunteering, etc.
Now that it has been quite some time since the Government and Non-Governmental Organizations formed a public-private partnership, the benefits of this alliance have already begun to emerge. The quality of meals has improved, the number of beneficiaries has increased and, most important of all, the battle against hunger and malnutrition has found new life.
