“A total number of 930 children were reported ill and none of them died after eating such low-grade food in the country during the last three years and current year”.
The Governement is not providing required nutritious food to children.Due to consumption of those food these children are getting malnourished.
The ministry had received 35 complaints from 15 states and Union Territories regarding to the substandard food quality during the same period.
The overall responsibility for providing nutritious mid-day meal to children is on state governments,”
The Midday Meal scheme comes under the HRD Ministry’s Department of School Education and Literacy.
In 2001, the Supreme Court passed an order stating “A basic entitlement of every child in every Government and Government assisted Primary Schools with a prepared Mid-day Meal with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8–12 grams of protein each day of school for a minimum of 200 days”. but nowadays it seems that some government school’s groundwork is not align with supreme court orders.
HRD MINISTER’s ACTIONS :-
->Respective state governments were requested to furnish action taken reports (ATRs) in the matter.
->As per the reports received, action such as issuing warning against the official responsible, terminating the contract of concerned NGOs and organisations, initiating criminal proceedings and imposing penalties against the defaulting persons.
->The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has also issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school-level kitchens to all the states and the UTs.
->The guidelines also provide instructions to schools to procure AGMARK quality and branded items for preparation of mid-day meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adult members of school management committees, including at least one teacher before serving to children.
MY VIEW ON TOPIC:-
-> We should increase the percentage of Raw food like salads,fruits,nuts etc in meal which will improve the nutritious level of meal and decrese the burden of cooking.
-> There should be a regular inspection of meals by random parents. Parents should be provided an online platform where they can give the review of the meal directly to government.
-> In an area, there should be a group of few nearby schools. Responsibily of preparing the meal should be given to one school for week. Responsiblity should be circulated to one to another school. If one school is preparing substandard quality of food, remaining schools will complain against the school.
-> There should be a sensible planning of menu which should be followed by all government schools.
HariSaiHaran2299 