CAG report on midday meal quality raises stink
The Comptroller and Auditor General has raised some issues about quality and delivery in the biggest school meal scheme, the national programme for nutritional support to primary education.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General has raised some issues about quality and delivery in the biggest school meal scheme, the national programme for nutritional support to primary education.
The ministry of human resource development���s flagship programme, commonly known as the midday meal scheme, failed to meet the objectives and standards set by it in terms of calorific value of meals, quality of food, micronutrients and quality of foodgrains. The programme���s failings could once again open the door for the packaged food lobby.
The ministry has categorically opposed the substitution of cooked meals for packaged ones, but the CAG���s findings might provide a new whiff of life to the lobby. The CAG found that monitoring of the delivery of ���wholesome meals��� such that each school is monitored at least once a year was ���ignored��� or ���partially implemented��� by states.
The worst offenders in this matter was Haryana, while state governments in Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar have failed to fix targets for inspection, which meant that no inspections were carried out.
When it comes to calorific value of the meal, which has been fixed at 450, shortfall ranged from 5 gm to 83 gm in states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu. In 2006, the ministry in its guidelines prescribed the administration of micro-nutrients, such as iron, folic acid and other vitamins. In as many as 13 states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, these micronutrients were not administered at all.
Besides these problems, the audit also notes that there were significant disruptions in serving cooked meals in 17 states that were test-checked. The reasons for disruptions have been attributed to shortage or delay in receipt of foodgrains, non-availability of funds, and absence of cooks.
It has also been noticed that inspection of foodgrains, so as to ensure fair average quality of foodgrains, was not being undertaken. This too was impacting the quality of meals.
The CAG has suggested that the ministry establish a system to ascertain improvement in nutritional levels of children. This in turn would ensure that other quality parameters are adhered to.
The ministry of human resource development���s flagship programme, commonly known as the midday meal scheme, failed to meet the objectives and standards set by it in terms of calorific value of meals, quality of food, micronutrients and quality of foodgrains. The programme���s failings could once again open the door for the packaged food lobby.
The ministry has categorically opposed the substitution of cooked meals for packaged ones, but the CAG���s findings might provide a new whiff of life to the lobby. The CAG found that monitoring of the delivery of ���wholesome meals��� such that each school is monitored at least once a year was ���ignored��� or ���partially implemented��� by states.
The worst offenders in this matter was Haryana, while state governments in Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar have failed to fix targets for inspection, which meant that no inspections were carried out.
When it comes to calorific value of the meal, which has been fixed at 450, shortfall ranged from 5 gm to 83 gm in states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu. In 2006, the ministry in its guidelines prescribed the administration of micro-nutrients, such as iron, folic acid and other vitamins. In as many as 13 states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, these micronutrients were not administered at all.
Besides these problems, the audit also notes that there were significant disruptions in serving cooked meals in 17 states that were test-checked. The reasons for disruptions have been attributed to shortage or delay in receipt of foodgrains, non-availability of funds, and absence of cooks.
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It has also been noticed that inspection of foodgrains, so as to ensure fair average quality of foodgrains, was not being undertaken. This too was impacting the quality of meals.
The CAG has suggested that the ministry establish a system to ascertain improvement in nutritional levels of children. This in turn would ensure that other quality parameters are adhered to.
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