TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Concerned over recent food-poisoning incidents due to the midday meal scheme, the Federation of Ponda Taluka Parents Teachers Association (PTA) has requested the government to either hand over the midday meal scheme to PTAs or to deposit the necessary amount in bank accounts of respective students.
According to Ponda Taluka PTA Federation President Sangam Bandodkar, a memorandum had been submitted to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar a few days before the incident in Usgao school, where 23 students fell ill reportedly after consuming food served under the midday meal scheme.
“We don’t want a Bihar-like situation where about 23 students died after consuming midday meals. It is high time that the government takes stringent measures to ensure that quality of food supplied under the midday meal scheme is improved, said Bandodkar.
According to Bandodkar, there are about 38 high schools affiliated to the Ponda Taluka PTA Federation and he added that they had petitioned Parrikar to reform the midday meal scheme in the State.
“A few days before the incident at the Usgao school we had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, requesting him to hand over the responsibility to the respective PTAs of the schools or to deposit the necessary amount in the respective bank accounts of the students. In this way, the PTA can monitor the hygiene and even if the amount is deposited in the bank, it can be used by parents to provide quality homemade food” said Bandodkar.
When asked if government would consider the proposal of Ponda Taluka PTA Federation, Bandodkar replied, “According to information, barely 20-30 percent of students benefit from the midday meals due to concerns over hygiene. If the government cannot consider our proposal, then we will request the government to stop the scheme in the best interest of the students.”
However, some parents have differed with the views of Bandodkar. “Closing the midday meal scheme is not an option. We can provide homemade food to our children, but what about students from the economically weaker section? However, utmost care must be taken by the people involved in supplying the midday meals,” remarked K Manowadkar from Ponda.
Added Pradip Bhakle, another parent, “The scheme is good, but government should be extra cautious and I feel a committee has to be appointed by the government to monitor these self-help groups supplying food under midday meal scheme.”
