Midday meal: Inadequate food served to kids in Delhi schools: SMCs

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 21

Barely weeks after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia found deficiencies in midday meal kitchens, members of school management committees have come across a major issue about “inadequate food” being served in some government schools in the capital.

The matter came to light during inspection of around 1,000 schools functioning in morning and evening shifts in Delhi, said a government official. This assumes significance coming close on the heels of two recent incidents of hospitalisation of students after consuming midday meal in the national capital.

“Some defaulters have come to light. The most common problem across schools has been the less quantity of meals being served,” said the official while noting that steps had been taken to punish the defaulters and deter recurrence of such mistakes.

“After complaints were received regarding midday meals in government schools the SMCs decided to conduct a thorough check of the food quality and quantity served in schools,” said the official.

The SMCs checked whether the food cooked for midday meal was nutritious and hygienic and ensured that a school official tasted the food before it was served to students.

Other protocols, including those serving food covered their heads and cleaned their hands and that the food being served was of the mandated quantity, were also checked by the SMC members who also ensured that all children were encouraged to wash their hands before eating.

“We have often worried about the quality of food being served to children in their midday meals, but we have never known how to keep a check on it. It is good that the government is taking these initiatives to involve the parents and community members in making schools more accountable,” said an SMC member from GBSSS Defence Colony.