Midday meal report on schools in gram panchayats discussed to redraw plans to improve food quality

BALURGHAT: In a recent development to provide quality cooked food to be served to the students of different state-run primary and high schools under the scheme of midday meal project in South Dinajpur, a special review meeting on the basis of reports submitted by the officials after inspection in schools has been conducted at Balurghat district administrative building, said a senior government official while talking to Millennium Post on Sunday.

"We have convened a meeting on Friday to take appropriate measures so that children get quality food in government-aided primary and high schools. The meeting was chaired by the divisional commissioner Hari Ramalu along with top district administrative officials and district magistrate Nikhil Nirmal," said district information and cultural officer (DICO) Santanu Chakraborty.

According to him, a special drive on midday meal inspection was held for a fortnight from September 2 to 14 by 78 top officials in all eight blocks and two subdivisions.

The officials were directed to visit 2,242 schools covering all 64 gram panchayats.

During the inspection, they covered 90 percent of the given target which included 2016 schools.

"In the meeting, a thorough power-point presentation was given by the officers who had been associated with school inspection. A feedback report on inspection was also accepted. The officials had also been submitted a full-fledged report, including suggestions for better service with special focus on low cost interventions," said district nodal officer Mahadyuti Adhikary. Adhikary said some suggestions, including special recognition of teacher-in-charges and headmasters of various institutions with exemplary midday

meal practices and a joint workshop involving them and teachers to replicate good practices were accepted during the meeting.

"A significant decision was taken that a special workshop will be organised after puja holidays on it," he said.

Notably, special attention has been given to resolve the problem of drinking water crisis in schools. It is learnt from the officials that a joint inspection team from both block and Public Health Engineering (PHE) levels will be organised shortly for water testing. The team will have to submit the report at the earliest to the higher authorities.

"The problem related to the matter of approach road connectivity and boundary wall (fencing in schools) will be sorted out soon through block levels. We can't tolerate the low-quality of rice (food-grains) provided through public distribution system. We have directed all block development officers to look into the matter carefully and asked them to initiate stringent action if the quality of rice is not properly maintained," said an official.

According to a senior official, the figure of proper student-teacher ratio will be maintained strictly while action will be taken to rationalise the ratio if the figure is not balanced.

Apart from this, the stress has also been given on constructing dining hall in individual institution.

District magistrate Nikhil Nirmal said: "Proper steps will be taken on the basis of their reports. We are determined to provide good cooked food to have served for the students in future."