Midday meal quality check at 1,000 schools

NEW DELHI: After recent incidents of students falling sick by consuming midday meals were reported, members of the school management committee (SMC) conducted an inspection of the midday meal quality across more than 1,000 schools of the capital on Thursday.
The committee visited both morning and evening shift schools and checked if the food cooked was nutritious and hygienic, whether a school official taste tested the food before it was served, if those serving the food covered their heads and cleaned their hands, and the food being served was of the mandated quantity.
It also checked if children were encouraged to wash their hands before eating and that students ate their meals together, irrespective of their caste, class or religion.
In a statement, the Delhi government said that they have “empowered” SMCs, which are an example of participatory governance. Under these, parents, teachers, social workers and local MLAs form an elected body that helps govern schools.
An SMC member from GBSSS Defence Colony said, “We have often worried about the quality of food being served to children in their midday meals, but we have never known how to keep a check on it. It is good the schools are made more accountable.”
The government statement also said that some ‘defaulters’ have come to light after the inspection.
“The most common problem across schools has been the less quantity of meals being served. Steps have been taken to punish the defaulters and deter any such mistakes in the future,” it said.