Midday meal NGO to go on despite protests

The hectic lobbying seems to have finally worked for NGO Stri Shakti as the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) standing committee has finally approved the commissioner’s preamble on the matter without any change. The NGO will now continue the kitchen for mid day meals for the next three years.

The preamble was fist put in the standing committee meeting on 11 July 2012 and it was found that the kitchen of Stri Shakti in Ranhola was allotted over one lakh students, violating the norms laid down by the inspection committee. 

The standing committee ordered an enquiry and categorically directed the removal of the kitchen from the list,  and redistribution of students to other kitchens. 

‘We have passed the matter of allotment for kitchen as officers stated that it would not be possible due to the guidelines of the vigilance department,’ said Yogendera Chandolia, Chairman of the Standing Commitee. 

He stated that the kitchen was not under the jurisdiction of NDMC.

Interestingly, in the same documents, it has been mentioned, ‘In view of trifurcation, it is recommended that kitchens which have been selected for providing cooked food should be confined to  schools of respective zones’. Of the three canteens in NDMC area selected for mid day meal scheme, one belongs to Stri Shakti in Ali Pur village. This canteen has been ranked ‘fair’ by the inspection committee but strength of students was increased, only canteen to get this benefit.

However, M/s Surya Charitable & Welfare Society, Budhpur Village, was ranked ‘good’ but saw a fall in the student strength. It was allotted 1,53,000 students in 2011-12 but was recommended only for 1,40,000 students in the current session. Similarly, another contractor Ms Maitree Research & Development Foundation in Budh Vihar was proposed 33,000 less students in the current session, despite being ranked fair.

According to the Kitchen Inspection Committee a kitchen graded ‘good’ shall be alotted one lac or above children while ‘fair’ gade kitchen be allotted 65,000 to 1.00 lac children. The ‘poor’ grade kitchens are not considered for mid day meal.