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Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 14
A team from the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) inspected mid-day meal served at government schools. The team observed that the midday meal served in schools in Punjab is better as compared to other states.
The team, led by KK Sharma, chief consultant, midday meal scheme from the MHRD, inspected mid-day meal at seven schools falling in the district.
Prabhcharan Singh, general manager, state midday meal cell, Anil Kumar, Deputy District Education Officer (Primary) and Nazima Chaudhry, district accountant, were present in the inspection.
The schools visited by the team today included Government Primary School Sarabha Nagar; Government High School, Sarabha Nagar; Government Model School, Jhande; Government Primary School, Jhande; Government Primary School, Barewal Awana; Government Primary School, Gobind Nagar and Government Senior Secondary School, Gobind Nagar.
Sharma tasted the meal at every school he visited and expressed satisfaction. He said, “The arrangement and preparation of midday meal at government schools in the state is better than other states although he did not shared the names of other states.
He was also impressed with the kitchen gardens developed by most of the schools. “I am very pleased to see the schools are following the instructions and have developed kitchen gardens at their respective schools. As a result kids can get fresh and organic vegetables in their lunch,” he said.
When asked about the delay in release of funds for the scheme, he said the Centre deposits the funds on time and rest is the duty of the state to disburse them on time.
Midday meal workers also put forward their demand for hike in their honorarium and he said it is under consideration.
Don’t take midday meal home, helpers warned
The Mid-Day Meal Society, Punjab, has written to all the DEOs of the state stating that it has come to the notice that the cooks-cum-helpers are take the remaining food cooked in the midday meal to their homes. Prabhcharan Singh, general manager, State Mid-day Meal Cell, had asked the school heads and principals to keep a check on this practice and to take necessary legal action the violators.
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