Goa schools and parents can opt out of mid-day meal scheme

PANAJI: The schools and the parents can now opt out of the mid-day meal scheme for students, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced here today.

"If the Parent-teachers Associations and school managements were not able to monitor the quality of mid-day meals served in the school, the government would not object to stoppage of the scheme at the particular school, if such a request is made," Parrikar said.

The statement comes in the wake of three incidents of reported food poisoning in the schools in the state.

A few days ago, 19 students from a school in Pernem tehsil had to be treated for suspected ill-effects of mid-day meal.

Further, the schools would be free to select the local self-help group for supply of the meals. Education department will issue clear guidelines in this regard by weekend, Parrikar said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also distributed to media copies of a report by the state Food and Drug Administration, which says that there was no food poisoning in the incident at a school in Usgao.