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VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2026)
A structured narrative review of the role of the mid-day meal programme on academic outcomes among tribal students in Kolhan Division of Jharkhand, India
Authors
Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Ashok Nimesh
Abstract
The present study attempts to summarise the research related and
available up-to-date regarding the significance of the MDM programme of the Government
of India on the students of tribal background-based communities; we have tried
to pool the available research outcomes and their implementable findings
through this structured narrative review. The study aimed to cross-check the
significance of India’s Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Programme on the spectrum of
academic outcomes, viz.,
enrolment, attendance, retention, and learning achievement, among tribal
students in the Kolhan Division of Jharkhand. Studies dived into the sea of
literature through authentic and validated platforms like PubMed, Springer, and
reports of different levels of government agencies. The findings of this
systematic search and screening process, which was following Prisma standard
guidelines, the systematic search conducted across major databases and official
repositories and identified total 430 records, out of which 412 were from the
databases and 18 from the government reports, from which we have removed 390
for duplication, 310 based on their title and abstract lacking direct
connection to our study, 65 for the lacking of empirical data, and finally we have
summarized the 15 studies which met the criteria and those were incorporated
into the qualitative analysis and synthesis of this narrative review. The
findings of the review were very significant and reported the indication that the
Midday Meal Program has significantly enhanced the efficiency of education and
quality. It also made accessible the education and nutritional to the
marginalized tribal students. The academic parameters of enrolment, attendance,
and learning outcomes were also significantly improved, especially in the
tribal-dominant regions like Kolhan. Along with these improvements, some
challenges were also identified, like the consistency, quality, supply, and of
food, linguistic and cultural barriers, and socio-economic constraints. This narrative
review enabled empirical studies that were focused on the Kolhan's tribal
population and emphasized on the stronger monitoring system that is required to
improve the nutritional quality. It also draws attention towards the
integration of culturally responsive pedagogy and nutrition education
interventions For the future directions from MDN in Kolhan district, we can
advise to the policy makers and administrations towards the strengthening of
monitoring system, enhancing the manual diversity and introducing nutritional
adequacy, integration of school meals with health and nutritional education,
encouraging the future research which will be periodic and comparative, and
also the evaluation of inter-district and gender disparities which will surely
enhance and improvise this very public profiting scheme of the government.
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Pages:110-113
How to cite this article:
Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Ashok Nimesh "A structured narrative review of the role of the mid-day meal programme on academic outcomes among tribal students in Kolhan Division of Jharkhand, India". International Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 110-113
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