Nutritional officer to check quality of Midday Meals soon
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 29
The Education Department would shortly appoint a nutritional officer to check the quality of the food served and evaluate the nutritive value of Midday Meals on day-to-day basis, declared Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate on the floor of the House on Wednesday.
Speaking in response to Calling Attention moved by Fatorda MLA Damu Naik, Education Minister said, the nutritional officer will travel to all talukas to collect the samples and submit reports. He will also have the responsibility to guide the Self Help Groups in this regard.
Currently, taluka level officials collect samples and get it evaluated in the laboratory of Goa College of Home Science for its quality and nutritive value, Minister said allying fear expressed by Fatorda MLA that low quality of midday meals are supplied to the students.
Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho suggested Midday meal scheme should be extended to non-aided schools as well as many poor students study in the schools.
Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar complained that in some schools contractors sub-let the work and this is not a healthy trend. He further suggested that pulao should be replaced with some other food item, as Goans are not accustomed to eating rice in the morning. As a result, some students refused to eat, he said.
Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar said, the department should see that distribution of mid meals is properly done and contractors should be accordingly instructed.
However, Monserrate said, contract to supply Midday Meals have been given to those SHGs having licence of Food and Drugs Administration.
The food supplied at the school, is tested for quality everyday by a teacher and by one of the members of the PTA of school before it is served to the students. If they are satisfied then only food is served to the students, Minister said.
Total 1,64,379 students are covered under this scheme and is implemented as per guidelines of the Government of India.
In Goa, menu for Midday Meal Scheme include bhaji pao, vegetable pulao and sheera.
Speaking on the suggestion made, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat told the House that menu was fixed after consultation with Home Science college.
Reacting to suggestion made to increase the rate fixed per meal, Monserrate said, rates were recently hiked . The rate fixed per meal is Rs 3.83 per student per day for primary and Rs 5.32 per student per day for V to VII. Besides 100 gm food grain per child per day for primary and 150 gm food grain per child per day for Upper Primary is provided to the supplier.
As told to the House, the nodal officer from the Directorate of Education also supervises and monitors the scheme. The officers of the directorate and the zonal office check the quality of food served when they are on routine inspection of the schools.
