PANJIM: The Goa government is wary about inconsistency in taste of food and some self help groups (SHGs) sub contracting work to others which has posed challenge in proper implementation of the Central government financed mid-day meal scheme.
While not all mid-day meal (MDM) suppliers fall in this category, a few have definitely come under radar of the government. “The SHGs are doing reasonably good job but problem is also taste of the food. Maintaining consistency is a difficult task, some manage some can’t and a few of them have given the work on sub-contract. This is where the problem comes,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said in an exclusive conversation with Herald.
The role of various SHGs has in the past few years faced the wrath of the government for either cooking in unhygienic condition, supplying adulterated and even stale meals to students, resulting in their ill-health. The State Education Department has also taken action against over 50 groups in the last six academic years for failing to meet the MDM norms. However, some SHGs continue to abuse the renewal of contract with the latest example being Bhumika Mahila Mandal.
The group, which has been providing meals to a certain number of schools in Sattari, was this week blacklisted for cooking in unhealthy premises and sans licence from the Food & Drugs Administration. The FDA has ordered its closure besides the bakery that provides bread to the group.
This is not the first instance with Bhumika as in July 2014, students of government high school in Honda (Sattari) noticed beetle and body parts of insects in some bread supplied for the pao-bhaji. The then Honda school’s parent-teacher association had alleged that students repeatedly complained about inferior quality of food supplied to them.
With another incident, it is for the department to decide if the supplier is still eligible for providing meals to the students under the ongoing scheme. Director G P Bhat refused to comment by only stating that at the moment temporary arrangements have been made to ensure 900 plus students in Sattari are not left hungry.
Sources in the government said that all SHGs have to compulsorily comply with the conditions laid down under the scheme. Moreover, conceding stray incidents, the official said that Goa is far better in hygiene compared to other states in the country.
“It does happen once in a while (cases of food poisoning or stale meals supplied to students). The government does not justify it because it has to be zero. Nevertheless, the hygiene conditions in Goa are better than any other states because we ask the FDA inspectors to conduct regular checks,” he said citing that incidents in the last couple of years have declined drastically.
FDA Director Salim Veljee has confirmed that they conduct routine and surprise inspections in the premise of the SHGs that cook and supply mid-day meals to the schools. “Those found in violation of the norms are issued closure notice,” he added.
