Date:31/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/31/stories/2007053107710400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Midday meal: delay likely in some places

Special Correspondent

Basavaraj Horatti

Bangalore: The midday meal scheme, which was to be extended to government and aided high schools from July 1, may be delayed by a fortnight in some districts, according to Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Horatti said the preparatory process for starting the scheme was not complete in some areas. The process, however, had started in earnest and "will pick up soon" and benefit 18.35 lakh high school students across Karnataka, he said. Instructions had been given to appoint additional personnel for cooking "wherever necessary" on a temporary basis, he added.

The Minister, who is currently travelling in Goa, has convened a meeting of officials on June 5 to review the preparation in various parts of the State. Extension of the scheme to high schools was announced in the recent budget and a Government Order on its implementation was passed earlier this month.

The extension of the scheme to high schools will cost the Government an additional Rs. 126 crore. Of this, Rs. 48 crore comes from diverting the sum earlier allocated to introduce eggs in midday meal scheme, according to the Minister. Following objections to the introduction of egg in the meal scheme by some religious leaders and BJP, the egg scheme was withdrawn.