Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme : Unstarred Question in Loksabha

Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

whether it is a fact that the Mid Day Meal Scheme in various States in the country is in very pathetic state due to alleged corruption and nexus between school authorities with contractors and political leaders and if so, the details thereof; 

(b) whether the Government is aware of casualties after consuming Mid Day Meal provided in some of the schools across the country and if so, the details of such incidents during the last three years, State/UT and Year-wise

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 168                                   ANSWERED ON: 18.07.2016

Review of Mid Day Meal Scheme

MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:-

(a) whether it is a fact that the Mid Day Meal Scheme in various States in the country is in very pathetic state due to alleged corruption and nexus between school authorities with contractors and political leaders and if so, the details thereof; 

(b) whether the Government is aware of casualties after consuming Mid Day Meal provided in some of the schools across the country and if so, the details of such incidents during the last three years, State/UT and Year-wise; 

(c) whether the Government proposes to review the Mid Day Meal Scheme to protect children and fix the responsibility and punish the guilty persons in this regard; and

(d) if so the reaction of the Government thereon and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SH.PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a): Under Mid Day Meal Scheme, hot cooked meals are provided to 10.03 crore children in 11.50 lakh institutions on every working day of the school. Despite this scale of operations, only 95 complaints of misappropriation/corruption have been received during the last three years. State-wise number of such complaints is annexed. 

(b) to (d): During the last three years, only one such incident has been reported in July, 2013 in District Saran of Bihar in which 23 children died after consuming the Mid Day Meal. Criminal proceedings against accused persons under section 302, 307, 328 and 120(B) of Indian Panel Code were launched by the State Government. Investigation was completed and the case is currently pending trial in the court. Several measures have been taken in the recent past to improve implementation of the scheme. In February, 2015, updated guidelines on Food Safety and Hygiene have been issued to all the States and UTs to deal with food safety issues relating to procurement, storage, cooking, serving and waste disposed of food items. Further, under the provisions of National Food Security Act, Mid Day Meal Rules, 2015 have been notified in September, 2015. These Rules inter-alia, provide for enhanced role of School Management Committees, testing of food samples in Government recognized labs and fixing responsibility on concerned school authorities for failure to maintain regularity in providing meals to children on school working days. Besides, States have also been instructed that at least one and preferably two parents should taste the meal before being served to children.

*****************

Source : Loksabha

[http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/9/AU168.pdf]