MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a)& (b): Two complaints, one each from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, have been
received by this Department since 01.01.2011. The two states were asked to enquire
into them and take necessary action. The State of Madhya Pradesh has informed that
the complaint was found baseless as the meals prepared by female cooks belonging to
Scheduled Caste community were being consumed by all the children in the school. The
State of Uttar Pradesh has informed that the complaint of the Principal of the concerned
school, Lakhimpur, regarding non-cooking of mid-day meals and caste discrimination was
found baseless as the same was made on account of action taken against him; his pay was
stopped for not doing his duty properly.
(c): States/UTs have formed Committees/Samities with members from Scheduled Castes &
Scheduled Tribes to inspect preparation and distribution of food. Similarly, priority
is given to these communities in recruitment of cook-cum-helpers.
MDM guidelines lay down that on an average 25% of schools should be inspected every
quarter by state government officers belonging to different departments at District,
Sub-Division, Tehsil/Taluka, block and other suitable levels. In addition, the Joint
Review Missions consisting of representatives of Central Government, State Government,
UNICEF and Supreme Court Commissionerate, also help in detecting the malaise. Similarly,
41 independent Monitoring Institutions such as IIT Chennai and Visva-Bharati also monitor
this aspect.