Goa plans overhauling of mid-day meal
PTI, PANAJI | 20 July 2013 15:43 IST
The Goa Education department has decided to introduce some changes in the mid-day meal scheme following two major cases of food poisoning which were reported this month.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who holds the Education portfolio, has called a meeting of representatives of Parent-Teacher Associations, self-help groups involved in preparation of meals, and officials of related departments at Porvorim on July 24 to discuss the issue.
Sources said the scheme would be overhauled next month onwards.
The changes would include introduction of fruits and home-made chapattis which are least likely to cause food poisoning.
Goa State Education Development Corporation, a state-run body, would be the nodal agency for implementation.
This month, two major cases of food poisoning through mid-day meals at schools were reported in the state, affecting over hundred students altogether.
Goa College of Home Science has been asked to conduct a detailed study of the mid-day meal scheme and suggest how it could be made safer for children.
Parrikar had earlier announced that food inspectors will be appointed to check the quality of meals served at schools.
FOOD SECURITY BILL MUST GIVE CASH AND NOT FOOD. GOD HAS SHOWN WHAT WILL HAPPENED TO THE FOOD SECURITY BILL. MID DAY MEAL & FOOD SECURITY BILL MUST GIVE CASH AND NOT FOOD.
The best would be to stop giving meals to the students by any organisation/agency and instead give the cost amount of the mid-day meals to the parents of the students so that the parents can give food to their children they like, in the form of tiffin.
If this is done, children will get the food of their choice and all the problems will be solved.
Mass cooking and serving of food should always be avoided as food can easily get contaminated based on the climatic conditions of Goa.
It is very difficult to supervise and check whether the agencies preparing these meals maintain proper hygiene, procure good quality rice, dals, vegetables etc.
Why should the young children suffer due to incompetence and callousness on the part of the agencies preparing and serving these meals?.
If Mid-Day meals has these much casualties then how much casualties will have after Full-Day meals starts. Goans must say no to Food Security Bill. Instead of Food, Government must give monthly one thousand rupees as food allowance to all Goans.