Inspection of Mid-Day Meal Prog begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 22 2013:
Education Minister M Okendro has categorically stated that strict action would be taken against the authorities of those schools which do not provide mid-day meal to students.
He was talking to media persons on the sideline of the inspection tour of Mid-Day Meal Programme at several schools in Imphal West district today.
Officials of Education Department including ZEO of Zone-I accompanied the Education Minister in the tour.
Minister Okendro further assured that the cooks would also be trained to prepare hygienic food for students under the Mid-Day Meal Programme.
He stated that the inspection was done at the instruction of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and would continue in other districts.
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Most schools were found providing mid-day meal to students in a proper manner.
The school authorities have been strictly instructed to maintain proper hygiene while providing food to children, Okendro noted.
Education Minister maintained that hygiene is the first priority in providing mid-day meal to students.
The State Government would take up effective measures to monitor the Mid-Day Meal Programme in order to avoid unwanted incidents, as reported in Bihar and other states, he added.
He further appealed to social organizations and political parties to give valuable suggestions for improvement of Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and added that the National Food Security Bill would also cover the mid-day meal for children in schools.
Minister Okendro also had meal with the school children.
The schools inspected by Minister Okendro were Praja High School, Lamsang, Budhi Manjuri School, Khamnam Bazar, Kebol High School, Tera, Sagolband Popular Primary School and Bhairodan Maxwell Hindi High School, Thangal Bazar.
It may be noted that 3215 schools are providing mid-day meal to 1.90 lakh children at primary level and 42,000 children at upper primary level in the State.
6335 cooks are currently employed for providing mid-day meal to students for 225 days in a year.
Meanwhile, an 11-member team from the Centre arrived at Imphal yesterday to inspect implementation of Mid-Day Meal Programme in the State.