Date:28/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/28/stories/2007102855230900.htm

National

Entrust noon meal programme to independent agency: Assam Minister

Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI: Assam Education Minister Ripun Bora on Saturday underscored the need for handing over the Mid Day Meal (MDM) programme to a separate independent agency.

Speaking at the first regional workshop of flagship programmes of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Mr. Bora also stressed on the need to ensure uninterrupted and simultaneous flow of fund and foodgrain for effective implementation of the programme.

Highlighting the achievements and constraints in implementation of this flagship programme, Mr. Bora said a section of teachers in the State viewed the programme as an extra burden and were sceptical about its effectiveness and showed reluctance despite the fact the MDM programme benefited a large number of school children and led to a quantum jump in enrolment in the State.

He, however, said that existing cooking cost of Rs. 1.40 paise for every student was insufficient and urged the Centre to increase the amount. The Minister in his power point presentation at the workshop organised by Doordarshan said that the present system of releasing transportation cost should be simplified and the money should be released in advance instead of reimbursement so that the entire quota of foodgrain meant for MDM programme could be used in time by the schools.

He said that due to mismatch in fund flow and availability of foodgrain, it so happened that in some areas the rice was not available at the depots concerned of the Food Corporation of India for two to three months and sometimes when the rice was available, there were fund constraints.

The Minister also urged the Ministry of Human Resource Development to increase the wages of cooks engaged in cooking mid-day meal in conformity with the Minimum Wages Act of the Assam government.

The programme has covered 49,420 primary schools and other elementary institutions in the State so far. He called for increased participation of the people in the programme.