Parents to monitor & taste mid-day meal for quality in Himachal

In a bid to improve the quality and hygiene of mid-day meals, mothers will now taste the food in government schools before it is served to students. The Directorate of School Education has directed Deputy Directors to constitute a rotating group of parents — preferably mothers — for this purpose.

The parent group, to be known as ‘Bhojan Parakhi’, will assess the quality, hygiene and nutritional value of the meals. As per the instructions, schools must maintain a monthly roster on a day-to-day basis, with at least one or two mothers visiting the school daily to taste the food before it is served.

During their visit, parents will also check the cleanliness of the kitchen-cum-store, the quality of ingredients used and whether the food is properly cooked. In case a mother is unable to visit the school on her scheduled day, the roster provides flexibility for a neighbour or another parent to step in.

The visiting parent will be required to record feedback, note the time of tasting and sign the register daily. Any concerns regarding food quality or hygiene must be reported immediately to the chairperson of the School Management Committee and the school head for prompt corrective action.

A school teacher, however, pointed out practical challenges. “At present, the food is usually tasted by a designated teacher or an SMC member. In rural areas, many mothers are engaged in agricultural work. It remains to be seen how many will be able to spare time for this responsibility,” the teacher said.