MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) to (c) The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) guidelines provide for the monitoring of the scheme by the officials of State Governments, Food and Nutrition Board, nutrition experts, Monitoring Institutes, School Management Committee etc. for ensuring that children get nutritious Mid-Day Meals of satisfactory quality. These Officials/Institutes also inspect the Kitchen/Godowns with respect to cleanliness so the nutritious meals prepared under safe and hygienic conditions are served to the children.
The MDM Guidelines also provide for the lifting of good quality food grains of at least Fair Average Quality (FAQ) from FCI godowns, the storage of food items in dry and safe places, in air tight containers/bins to avoid infestation and cooking the meals in a hygienic environment through properly trained cooked –cum –helpers. The cooked food has to be tasted by 2-3 adults including one teacher before serving it to the children. The ingredients used for cooking, food grains, pulses, vegetables, cooking oil and condiments, should be free from adulteration and infestation, and should be used only after proper cleaning and washing. The cooking and serving utensils should be properly cleaned and dried every day after use.
In the current year (2012-13) till December 2012, officials from the State Governments have inspected 69% of the Schools, in their respective States. In addition the Monitoring Institutes inspected 22,594 schools in 580 Districts during October 2010 to September 2012; and the Central Review Missions inspected 642 schools in 44 Districts from 2010 to 2013. The Office of the Supreme Court Commissionerate for the MDMS has also inspected 585 schools in 49 Districts.
(d) to (f) In the current year 93% of the funds allocated for the MDMS, have already been released to the states. Till date, a non-recurring Central Assistance of Rs. 7524.37 Crores has already been released to States/UTs for the construction of 979164 Kitchen-cum-stores. Out of these, 599775 kitchen-cum-stores have been constructed till 30.9.2012. Construction work for 106,678 kitchen-cum-stores is in progress.
