MID-DAY meal scheme rules for tasting food before serving being flouted

Ferozepur, July 20, 2013: With the large number of tragic incidents of unhygienic and sub-standard supply of mid-day meal occurring in quick succession, including the death of nearly two dozen children in Bihar on July 17, followed by falling ill of students after the lunch in Madhubani, have exposed the carelessness and negligence on the part of administrative system.
Inder Singh Gogia, President, Ferozepur District NGOs Coordination Committee, Ferozepur Unit alongwith members, showing his concern over the death and falling ill of school children said, “The government makes number of welfare schemes but it is totally failure on the implementation front and the concerned officials are playing with the lives of nearly 12 crore innocent children over 12 lakh schools which poses a big challenge and is not free from criminal negligence”.
He further said, “The scheme of mid-day meal was introduced to increase the students’ strength in the schools and to eliminate the barriers of caste and community in the schools by eating the food while sitting together.  But keeping in view the number of tragic incidents, it would be more appropriate if the mid-day meal suppliers are asked to eat the food before handing over to the school for service to the children apart from controlling the malnutrition among the students.  These arrangements will definitely keep the suppliers on its toes to monitor the kitchens more consciously and mid-day meal supplies will improve”.
While talking to government teacher, on the basis of anonymity said, “As per the guidelines laid down in the scheme, the food must be tasted by at least 2-3 adults including a teacher to avoid the risk of occurring of such incidents before it s given to students but in view of inferior quality of supply of food, everybody is reluctant to taste the food”.
Ranjit Singh Sehgal, A.C.Chawla, Dean Chand Sukhija, Gaurav Chopra, Manjit Singh Dhami, Mangat Ram, active social activists said,  “There is a need to enhance the wages of the cook in the school as the existing Rs.1,000 per month is too meager for someone cooking food for the entire school for full month besides washing up the dishes etc.”