Mid-day meal scar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2013: Apparently referring to the recent demises of many young students in Bihar and some other States after consuming adulterated mid-day meal Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Imphal West district Maibam Gopimohan has called upon the general public to contribute their mite in the judicious implementation of mid-day meal scheme in Manipur.

Speaking at a one-day 'State consultation and interface on status of Right to Education (RTE)' organised by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights at Hotel Imphal today, ZEO Gopimohan said under the mid-day meal project's stipulation meals are being provided to young school children for no less 225 days of the year.

Even though prescribed norms are being complied with in terms of number of meals supposed to be provided to the students there is still need for public scrutiny and constant monitoring to ensure that the children have healthy food items, said the ZEO who also highlighted that it is mandatory for both the headmaster/headmistress and cook of the school concerned to taste the prepared food before the same is fed to the children.

Confiding that consequent to the Bihar incident a number of measures have been adopted to ensure that children of Manipur consume well prepared and healthy foods, he also cautioned against siphoning off of food materials such as rice and cereals being supplied to primary level schools.

According to MACR convenor K Pradipkumar launch of RTE 2009 in Manipur is yet to have the desired impact as there are many children who are deprived of basic educational rights as laid down in RTE.

He opined that whether or not the noble project launched by the Central Government is being judiciously implemented in Manipur is still questionable.

Among others the event was also attended by ZEO (IE district) H Mema Devi, Imphal West DPM P Ronika and Bishnupur DPM E Satyajit.

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