Question : DISCRIMINATION IN MID DAY MEAL SCHEME



(a) whether instances of students not availing the mid-day meals at some places because of caste factor have come to the notice of the Government;

(b) if so, the details of such instances reported during 2011 and 2012 so far; and

(c) the remedial measures taken/being taken in this regard?

Answer given by the minister


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.