PANJIM: Tightening the noose around midday meal 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 midday meal 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 licence 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 midday meals 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 midday meals 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.
