Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2009:
Under a directive of the Supreme Court, the State Government has launched a new initiative to provide mid-day meal to school students for at least 200 days in a year, informed an official source.
Conceding that the Mid-Day Meal Scheme could not be implemented successfully in Manipur, the source informed that Deputy Commissioners would be instructed to make themselves available for active participation and regular monitoring in order to ensure successful implementation of the scheme.
Instead of the earlier practice in which ZEOs lifted rice from FCI after depositing requisite money on monthly basis, DC's would be entrusted to lift rice after making depositing money for three months in advance under the new arrangement.
Moreover, DCs would be asked to formulate a comprehensive plan which can monitor the quantity of rice delivered to schools on day to day basis.
The comprehensive plan formulated by DCs should be submitted to the Commissioner Education (S).
Further, DCs would constitute three to four vigilance committees in consultation with ZEOs in each Block for effective monitoring of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
These vigilance committee which would have three to four members will include members from NGOs.
The vigilance committees will be provided reporting proforma prepared by the Director of Education (S).
The vigilance committees will be activated from July and they would be instructed to conduct field inspection of schools within their Blocks, conveyed the source.
Stopping the earlier practice of releasing fund for construction of kitchen sheds, cooking costs, salary for cooks and school maintenance through ZEOs, funds will be released directly to school management and development committees.
Even if there were no such committees, they would be formed anew.
To implement the new initiative, ZEOs have been instructed to open bank accounts for school management and development committees.
Two representatives of the parents of students will be included while forming school management and development committees.
Weekly menu to be provided to students should also be put up in the school notice boards, conveyed the source.
Duties assigned to DCs for successful implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme would be taken into account while compiling their ACR.
The Chief Secretary has already issued an office memorandum in this regard, added the source.