DLOs instructed to follow guidelines
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 21 2013:
Taking serious note of the death of more than 20 children in Bihar after eating mid-day-meal provided by the Government, the Government of Manipur has instructed all District Level Officers (DLOs) to follow the guidelines stringently in implementing the Mid-Day-Meal scheme.
Mid-Day-Meal State Nodal Officer RK Tenedy told The Sangai Express that a high level meeting was held on July 19 with the Principal Secretary (Education) in the chair.
The DLOs who were present at the meeting were instructed to follow the State guidelines strictly while implementing the Mid-Day-Meal scheme.
According to the guidelines already drawn up by the State Government, cooks should wear clean and disinfected clothes, either the cook or some other person should the taste the cooked foods before they are served to children and all the children should be asked to wash their hands before eating.
By tradition, Manipuris wash their hands before having their meals and children following the same tradition always wash their hands before having their meals.
In addition, Manipuris have a tradition of sieving and washing rice before cooking.
The same practice is followed in cooking mid-day meals, Tenedy said.
In other Indian States, rice is transferred to the cooking utensil directly from the bag.
This poses health hazards and may become a factor for causing infections to children.
An office memorandum about the July 19 meeting would be issued soon, Tenedy added.