1,64,405 students covered under Mid-Day meals

PANJIM, JULY 30
A total of 1,64,405 students from primary (Std I to IV) and upper primary (Std V to VIII) have been covered under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in 11 talukas of the State as on June 30, 2010, revealed a reply tabled in the Monsoon Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly revealed. 
The maximum number – 13,915 (primary) and 17,744 (upper primary) – of these students, who have availed of this scheme, hail from Salcete taluka, followed by Bardez with figures of 12,723 (primary) and 15,487 (upper primary) students.    
The lowest number of students who have availed of this scheme are from Canacona taluka – 2,503 (primary) and 2,860 (upper primary). A total of 83 self-help groups (SHGs) were roped in by the Government to supply the meals.
To a question on whether there were any cases of food poisoning reported during the last academic year, the written reply reported one case of food poisoning in which 18 students of Yuvak Sangh High School, Sada, Vasco, developed symptoms of illness after consuming the Mid-Day meals.
The contract of the supplier, Saraswati SHG, from Vasco was terminated with effect from August 8, 2009, and the Food and Drugs Administration also suspended its license.