Threaten to suspend operations from Aug 1 if rates not hiked
TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Stung by sharp criticism in the quality of mid-day meals supplied to school students, mid-day meal suppliers in the State are expected to demand a hike in mid-day meal rates failing which they will consider suspending all mid-day meals to thousands of students all over the State from August 1.
According to reliable sources, a federation of over 82 self-help groups who supply mid-day meals are scheduled to meet at Miramar on Saturday evening to chalk out their course of action to corner the government on the present rate of mid-day meals and other issues, before they are expected to meet Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar later in the evening with their list of grievances.
“We have sought an audience with Parrikar to discuss our grievances and a delegation of 5-6 representatives from our federation will ask the government to address our demands,” a source told Herald.
Following the contamination of the mid-day meals at Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, Canacona, last week, it is learnt that the mid-day meal suppliers are upset that they were being targeted for every misdemeanour over the mid-day meals in the schools.
It is believed that self-help groups supplying mid-day meals will demand a hike in rates of the mid-day meals, as the suppliers claim that the present rate of Rs 5.08 for primary students and Rs 6.16 for secondary students is too meagre to provide quality meals.
“The federation is likely to take a posture at the Saturday’s meet that if the government does not pay heed to our demand over enhancement of rates, we will stop the supply of mid-day meals to schools en masse from August 1,” the source said.
