Study of feeding programs in Tamil Nadu

THIS WAS THE RATIONALE FOR AN EVALUATIVE FIELD STUDY IN 1971 AND 1972 OF THE NINE FEEDING PROGRAMS OPERATING IN THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU, INDIA. THE FEEDING PROGRAMS WERE IN GENERAL FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, ALTHOUGH THE FOOD IS USUALLY CONSUMED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, RATHER THAN A SUPPLEMENT TO, THE USUAL DIETARY INTAKES OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. CALORIC DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN PROTEIN DEFICIENCIES AMONG THE TARGET GROUP (FAMILIES WITH INCOMES BELOW RS. 300 PER MONTH). THE NINE DISTINCT SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAMS IN THE STATE FEED ONLY 12 PERCENT OF THE PRESCHOOL TARGET POPULATION, BUT 52 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL CHILDREN REQUIRE SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD. FEEDING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS ARE MAINLY CONCERNED WITH ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FOOD DELIVERED, RATHER THAN ESTIMATES OF ACTUAL CONSUMPTION BY PARTICULAR BENEFICIARIES AND THE EFFECTS OF TOTAL INTAKE ON HEALTH. FEEDING PROGRAMS CONDUCTED AT THE BALWADIES CAN BE MADE MORE EFFICIENT, BUT THIS WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND MANPOWER. THE PRESENT MID-DAY MEAL PROGRAM SHOULD NOT BE EXPANDED. PROGRAMS DIRECTED TOWARD PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND PREGNANT AND NURSING MOTHERS SHOULD BE RAPIDLY EXPANDED. THE EXISTING 30,000 SCHOOLS IN THE STATE SHOULD BE USED TO REACH THOSE TARGET GROUPS. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUPPORT MORE RESEARCH ON PRE-COOKED FOOD TECHNOLOGY, SINCE PRE-COOKED FOODS WOULD INTRODUCE MORE FLEXIBILITY INTO THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. FUTURE EVALUATIONS OF THE FEEDING PROGRAMS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED BY A DEPARTMENT SEPARATE FROM THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAMS.