PANJIM: Tightening
the noose around midday meal (MDM) suppliers in a bid to ensure that students are
served quality and hygienic food, the Education Department took action against
51 groups in the last five academic years for failing to meet MDM norms.
According
to information available with Herald, 51 self help groups (SHG) and mahila
mandals were identified as violators with Food & Drugs Administration (FDA)
suspending licenses of gross violators and revoking them after thorough
scrutiny.
Education
Director G P Bhat said that of the total, 45 contractors were issued warning
letters, four show cause notices and two were imposed fines for not adhering to
the Central scheme.
In
2014-15 year, FDA suspended the license of Surbhi SHG, Canacona after officials
found the food was unsafe for consumption and instructed them to stop cooking
until further orders. In the following year FDA and Education Department issued
show cause notices to Mahila Ekta SHG for flouting the scheme.
“The
department is always ready with an alternative arrangement when SHGs/mahila
mandals are issued notices to stop cooking or its licenses suspended for
violating the scheme. We direct the nearby SHGs to prepare additional MDM for
students in the schools where the violators would supply food before facing the
action,” the director said. The licenses are renewed, Bhat said, subject to fulfilling
all the conditions.
The
State – that has undertaken all the possible steps to ensure safe and
nutritious meal is served to students in 1502 government and aided schools –
did not witness a single food poisoning incident this year.
While contractors are given the liberty to cook food in kitchens
approved by FDA, Bhat asserted that seven Parent Teacher Associations are
proactively involved in cooking the MDMs in the school premises. “The PTAs
taste the food before it is distributed to the students,” he added. Assistant
district education inspectors are appointed for regular inspections.
