MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred
Question No. 159 for 22.08.2012 by Smt. Rama Devi and Shri Sajjan Verma,
regarding Unhygienic Food under MDMS.
(a) to (d): During the last three years and the current year, 29
complaints of poor quality of MDM had been received in this Ministry.
These complaints were referred to the concerned State Governments, who
have taken necessary action on 27 of them.In 9 cases, the allegations
in the complaints were not proved.The States / UTs have taken necessary
action on 18 complaints that were substantiated. The action taken
included warning to the concerned NGO and officers responsible, initiation
of departmental proceedings against Principal and Inspector, suspension
of erring officials, registration of criminal cases against the contractor
for negligence, cancellation of the contract of the supplier, changing of
cooks where required, and compensating children as per the directions of
the court. Detailed position is given at Annexure.
(e): The Government has taken the following steps to ensure serving of
quality and nutritious food under the MDMS:
(i) FCI is responsible for issue of food grains of at least Fair Average
Quality (FAQ); the District Collector/CEO of Zila Panchayat ensure that
food grains of at least FAQ are lifted after joint inspection by a team
consisting of FCI and the nominee of the Collector and/or Chief Executive
Officer, District Panchayat, and confirmation by them that the grain
conforms to at least FAQ norms.
(ii) The Government has made elaborate arrangements through MDM Scheme
guidelines to ensure that children get good quality meal to their
satisfaction. As per norms, the food is to be tasted by 2-3 adults,
including at least one teacher, before it is served to children.
(iii) Representatives of Gram Panchayats/Gram Sabhas, members of Village
Education Committees (VECs), Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), School
Management & Development Committees (SMDCs) as well as Mothers’ Committees
are required to monitor (a) the regularity and wholesomeness of the mid day
meal served to children, (b) cleanliness in cooking and serving of the mid
day meal, (c) procurement of good quality ingredients, and (d) implementation
of a varied menu. Supervisory Officers are required to inspect about 25% of
the schools every quarter.
(iv) The cooking cost has been increased by 7.5% annually in the last three
years for provision of pulses, vegetables and oils to ensure the nutritive
value of the food.
(v) To ensure safety and hygiene in the preparation of Mid-day-meal, till
March, 2012, Central assistance of Rs. 7024.76 Crores has already been
released to States/UTs for construction of 9,60,087 Kitchen-cum-stores.
Out of these, 5,60,546 kitchen-cum-stores have been completed and 95,867
are under construction.
