PONDA: The students of 40 Government Primary Schools (GPSs) and middle schools across Ponda taluka, who went without mid-day meals for two days last week, are now likely to be provided meals from Tuesday, as per the alternate arrangements made by the State government.
Nearly 2,000 students had to go without mid-day meals on September 28 and 29 after the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) temporarily suspended the licence of the Mangeshi self-help group (SHG) after worms were found in mid-day meals supplied by them to two government primary schools situated at Keri and Savoi Verem on September 26.
The worms were found in the pulao given to students following which the FDA inspectors collected samples of the mid-day meals for investigations. The FDA team had also inspected the kitchens of the Mangeshi-based SHG.
When O Heraldo contacted Ponda ADEI Amisha Talaulikar, said, “I have been informed that the government has made alternate arrangements
and a new contractor has been appointed to supply mid-day meals. Students are likely to get mid-day meals from Tuesday.”
She said that the students had to go without meals for two days last week.
The worms in the mid-day meals were found on September 26 after the Mangeshi-based Utkarsh SHG had supplied pulao with soya chunks to students. The SHG had purchased the soya chunks packets from a shop at Mardol and there were reports that worms were in the soya chunks packets.
