PORVORIM: Coming out in support of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) supplying meals to students in schools across the State under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, the ruling MLAs on Monday urged the State government to protect the interest of these groups.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who also holds the education portfolio to extend the contracts of the Self Help Groups from existing one year to at least three years.
“I also request the government to timely clear the payments of SHGs as they are solely dependent on the Mid-Day Meal Scheme for their livelihood. They have taken loans to meet the demands of the schools. They are Goans and we, being elected members, ought to protect their rights,” Amonkar said.
Claiming that SHGs have taken loans to upgrade their respective kitchen, Vasco MLA Krishna Daji Salkar appealed to the government to continue taking their services for at least next three years.
“SHGs are supplying quality food to schools and if the government wants them to further improve then they should be told. I request the government to continue with them for the next three years and not to consider roping in any agency for the supply of mid-day meals,” Salkar said.
However, Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo struck a discordant note and said that a section of parents don’t allow their children to opt for mid-day meals as they have apprehension over the quality of meals supplied by SHGs and added that there was a need to conduct an inspection of kitchen operated by SHGs.
They called upon the government not to have any tie-up with any private agency and consider providing training of the highest standard to the SHGs in food handling and nutritious cooking practices.
