Central team checks mid-day meal

Jalandhar, January 22

Expressing satisfaction over the quality of food being served to the students in Punjab during the mid-day meal, a team of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry said the food served in Punjab was better than that served in many other states in the country.

The team, led by senior consultant KK Sharma, conducted a minute survey of the mid-day meal in government schools at Model Town, Garha, Shakarpur, Pachranga, Bhogpur, Wadala, Sabowal and expressed satisfaction over the quality of food being served in the state.

The team, which has the mandate to ensure the proper implementation of this scheme along with proper quality and quantity of the food served to the students, was of the view that the food quality in these schools was good. The team reviewed the position of foodgrains received, utilised and balances lying in stock of the school. It also tasted the food to check the quality of meal served to the students under the scheme. Team members also visited the kitchens and the place where the food was served to the students and also checked the utensils in which the food was prepared.

The team had a detailed interaction with the staff preparing the food and with parents of students, who were served this meal. The team asked the staff preparing the food to be extra vigilant so that the food was cooked and served in a hygienic environment for the students.

The team said it must be ensured that the nutritional value of the food must be preserved at every cost. It said that the students must be served seasonal vegetables and pulses in the meal daily. They said in case the meal was not served, the students must be given allowance for that, as it was the responsibility of the school management to serve meal to them.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included general manager Mid-Day Meal Punjab Prabhcharan Singh, District Education Officer Rampal, District Guidance Counsellor Surjit Lal and others. — TNS