Team Herald
PANJIM: With the mid-day meal suppliers demanding a hike in payment, the Education Department has begun a survey to determine current market rates of ingredients used to prepare meals for students. Increase in price of local pao has also forced the Self Help Groups and Mahila Mandals to demand a hike in remuneration in a fresh representation to the department.
“Our officials are visiting all government grocery shops and supermarkets to find out the exact market rate of pulses, cooking oil, spices, bread and other ingredients used to prepare the food. Accordingly, we will prepare a report on the expenditure incurred to cook mid-day meals and accordingly propose to the State government for an increase in remuneration,” Director G P Bhat told Herald.
According to the All Goa Midday Meal Suppliers, the government offers Rs 5.71 per meal per primary student and Rs 6.79 per student of the upper primary school. The amount for each meal was hiked by a marginal amount from Rs 5.08 and Rs 6.18 respectively to compensate with the new system last year.
The government last November introduced chapati-bhaji under the revised mid-day meal scheme but the menu was kept optional and the suppliers are at liberty to serve pao/poli-bhaji throughout the week.
