TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a bid to make the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) more viable and nutritious for students in Goa, the education department is seeking Rs 26 crore funds from the Centre, for which a proposal would be shortly submitted to the union ministry.
Presently, Goa receives approximately Rs 20 crore from the Centre under the MDMS scheme, according to officials in the education ministry.
The new proposal seeks funds that will facilitate providing the required kitchen infrastructure and up-gradation of nutritional content in the mid day meal and remuneration for Self Help Groups engaged in the task of providing the midday meals under the scheme.
Currently the newly selected 127 SHGs have commenced serving the mid-day meal from February 1.
According to the new plan pão bhaji will be provided four days a week and pulao, twice a week.
“The scheme is being closely monitored,” Anil Powar, Director of Education said .
While in 2013, one case of food poisoning was reported, Goa has received favorable reports from inspections conducted by the Center by its agencies under the MDMS and officials are optimistic that the proposal for additional funding would be considered.
A meeting is scheduled later this month in New Delhi where Goa’s request for an additional Rs 6 crore would be presented. Midday meals which are currently supplied to students from classes I to VIII will in all likelihood be extended to students upto class X. The education department is yet to finalize the same.
