The Hindu : Mid-day meal scheme from Jan. 2

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 15, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Mid-day meal scheme from Jan. 2

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Nov. 14. The State Government will implement the mid-day meal programme in all primary schools, except those under private managements, from January 2.

The Government has targeted the programme for 75 lakh children in 75,000 schools run by the Government, local body and private aided managements. Hot cooked food with a minimum of 300 calories and 8 to 12 gm. of protein will be supplied to every child on all working days of the academic year, not exceeding 220 days, the School Education Minister, Mandava Venkateswara Rao, told the Assembly on Thursday.

Responding to a notice under Rule 304 by Kagitha Venkata Rao and 31 others, the Minister said DWCRA, self-help or other community-based organisations to be identified by the gram panchayats or mandal-level committees will be the implementing agencies in rural areas while DWCUA, community development societies, NGOs or urban SHGs to be identified by district Collectors will handle the programme in urban areas. The Collector will identify the implementing agency in Hyderabad and it may include contractual engagement.

The agencies will lift rice from fair price shops as per the allotment issued by the MROs, purchase the other required ingredients, procure cooking vessels and arrange for cooking of food by its members to feed the children.

Besides rice/wheat, the agencies will be provided Rs. 1.25 for each child a day to meet the cost of required ingredients. The menu will be flexible and the Collectors will have liberty to fix it but the only criteria to be satisfied would be to supply 300 calories of energy and 8-12 gm. of protein content.

Mr. Rao maintained that the implementation of the programme will be monitored at various levels by different committees. The Government will release the funds to Collectors who in turn will apportion the same and credit to the accounts of gram panchayats or MROs. The money will be released to the implementing agencies only after the quality of food and average number of children benefiting from the programme was satisfied.

The agencies will have to purchase dal, vegetables, sambar powder, cooking gas, etc. from out of the funds released to them. A reserve fund will be kept at their disposal.

Members, cutting across party lines, took exception to the absence of elected representatives in the panels to monitor the programme. Ponnala Laxmaiah said including milk and eggs under the coverage will benefit the dairy and poultry farmers.

P. Raghunath Reddy wanted the programme extended to private schools but the Minister refused to consider the proposal. The Minister also emphasised that the teachers will not be burdened to shoulder the programme. D.S. Redya Naik insisted that the teachers be made accountable to ensure quality of food.

S. Rajaiah of CPI(M) warned that the hygiene of kitchen and safety of storerooms be ensured. K. Haribabu highlighted the pitfalls of an earlier mid-day meal scheme introduced by the Government on account of the involvement of headmasters and teachers.

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