Question : COMPLAINTS AGAINST MID DAY MEAL SCHEME

(a) whether the Government has received complaints from various quarters regarding students falling sick/having died after consuming mid-day meal in schools including MCD schools in Delhi and food served in Navodaya Vidyalayas Hostels across the country;

(b) if so,the number of such incidents where students fell sick or died during the last one year and current year separately,State-wise;

(c) the remedial measures being taken by the Government to ensure the quality of mid-day meal and food being served in the schools and hostels; and

(d) the details of action taken against those found responsible for such incidents?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SHRI M.A.A. FATMI)

(a) to (d): Some cases of students fallen sick after consuming Mid Day Meal have come to the notice of the Government. The details of such cases and action taken are given in the annexure. However,no death case has been reported in the specified period(till the end of third quarter) due to food poisoning.Though the overall responsibility to ensure all logistic and administrative arrangements for regular serving of wholesome,cooked mid day meal in every eligible school,EGS/AIE centres lies with the State Government/UT Administration,the Central Government has been continuously urging the State Governments to

# ensure that food is cooked in a hygienic environment

# food items are stored in dry and safe places

# adequate drinking water is made available

# cooks are properly trained in adopting hygienic habits.

Besides,States have also been urged to involve the parents and community members to supervise the cooking and serving of mid-day meal.It is provided in the guidelines that the food prepared is tasted by 2-3 adults including atleast one teacher before it is served to children. As and when,any complaint is brought to the notice of the Government,the concerned State Government/UT Administration is asked to conduct suitable enquiry and to take appropriate action against the responsible person(s) and initiate corrective measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future.

The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has informed that one incident has been reported to them from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Jaffarpur Kalan,Delhi in which about 150 students had fallen sick on 25.01.2009.However,no death case has been reported due to food poisoning during the last year and current year.There is a Mess Committee at Vidyalaya level to check the quality of food.Six persons have been placed under suspension for their lapses in their duties at JNV,Jaffarpur Kalan, Delhi.