Many parents in the taluka have suggested supply of dry food items
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Food poisoning scare has literally thrown the mid-day meal scheme in disarray in Salcete, with three city-based schools stopping implementation of the scheme, while a large number of students have stopped eating the meals. While many parents in the taluka have suggested supply of dry food items, such as biscuits and ladoos for their wards under the scheme, pav bhaji has turned out a hit amongst the students, with a few takers for pulao and shiraa.
Information gathered from the education department revealed that three schools, including two prominent schools and one government primary school, has stopped implementing the mid-day meal scheme. The reason is simple: The schools did not want to risk the lives of students following the spate of incidents involving the scheme.
That’s not all. Blame it on the scare or otherwise, of the total students enrolled in the taluka around 9,000 of them are believed to have stopped availing the mid-day meal facility.
A headmistress of a city-based school pointed out that students prefer pav bhaji over Pulao and Shira and called for the change in the menu to meet the requirements of the students. “There’s not even 50 per cent response for pulao from students. The government should take a call on the menu to make the scheme attractive amongst the students,” she said.
Co-ordinator of mid-day scheme Prakash Shanu Shirodkar said the SHGs involved in supplying the meals have deleted shira from the menu as there’s very poor response for the item. “Presently, we are supplying pav bhaji and pulao on alternate days to the students. Supplying pav bhaji every day to the students will not fit in the bill. The rates of veggies have gone up like anything since 2009,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said that some mistakes might have been committed in the past, but hastened to add that things have improved now with the SHGs involved in the preparation of the food giving prime importance to hygiene. “The Food and Drugs Administration carries out routine inspections of the kitchens to check hygiene. Things are definitely improving at the ground level,” he added.
