Inadequate Record-Keeping and Lack of Protective Gear Challenge Mid-day Meal Program in Uttar Pradesh
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New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) Insufficient record-keeping and the absence of gloves and aprons for cooks have surfaced as critical issues in the execution of the Mid-day Meal Program across various districts in Uttar Pradesh, as the Parliament was informed on Monday.
Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, provided this information in a written response, noting that a social audit of the Mid-day Meal Program, part of the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), highlighted deficiencies in record-keeping in districts like Sitapur, Lakhimpur Khiri, Mau, Gonda, and Balrampur.
Furthermore, the lack of gloves and aprons for cooks was flagged as a significant concern in the districts of Lakhimpur and Hardoi, as stated by the Minister in response to an inquiry from Ruchi Vira of the Samajwadi Party.
Minister Chaudhary elaborated that Uttar Pradesh has reported conducting a social audit under the PM POSHAN Scheme in 1,500 schools for the academic year 2022-23 and in 1,575 schools for 2023-24, covering all 75 districts according to the Central government's guidelines; the process for the 2024-25 academic year is currently in progress.
He further explained that under the PM POSHAN, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme established by the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), every local authority, or any body authorized by the State Government, is responsible for performing periodic social audits to assess the functioning of the Scheme.
The Mid-Day Meal Rules, 2015 mandate that food samples be tested by the Government Food Research Laboratory or any legally accredited laboratory to ensure that the meals comply with nutritional standards and quality requirements.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is tasked with supplying food grains for the meals. Additionally, FCI designates a Nodal Officer for each State to address various issues related to food grain supply under the PM POSHAN Scheme, as stated by the Minister.
