Team Herald
PANJIM: Self Help Groups and mahila mandals are now at liberty to serve pao/poli-bhaji through the week instead of the compulsory chapati-bhaji under the revised midday meal scheme.
On the eve of schools re-opening after the Diwali vacation, Education Department allowed midday meal suppliers to either continue with chapati-bhaji or pao/poli-bhaji.
“We have not dropped chapati-bhaji from the menu. The SHGs and mahila mandals have been given the option to continue serving chapati-bhaji and pao/poli-bhaji every alternate day of the week, or serve only chapati-bhaji or only pao/poli-bhaji all six days,” Education Director G P Bhat told Herald after a meeting with representatives of midday meal suppliers, on Thursday.
The department has, however, refused to hike remuneration by Re 1 per student. “Soon after enforcing the revised midday meal scheme on November 1, we had hiked the price by 0.60 paisa,” he added.
Suppliers had expressed reservations on serving chapati-bhaji citing various reasons such as extra work load on the cooking staff and expenses. The department had refused to drop chapati-bhaji but allowed them to serve this to schools in batches on any three days of the week. The government then decided to review the implementation during the Diwali break taking feedback from the SHGs and mahila mandals.
In a fresh representation this week, some of them approached the department stating they were willing to continue with the menu provided wages are increased by Re 1 per meal.
