DEOs warned on mid-day meal quality

• Ensure hygienic conditions: Govt
• Every mandal shall have three teams of officials
• Irresponsible officers will be suspended immediate

In a stern warning to all the District Educational officers, state government made it amply clear that they will be squarely responsible for any mishap that takes place with regard to proper implementation of Mid-day Meal Scheme. "You have to ensure that all the guidelines given by the Central and State governments on the scheme shall be strictly adhered to. Government will not hesitate to suspend those officials who are found to be lax and ignored the guidelines" Vani Mohan, Commissioner of School Education, warned the DEOs and other district level officials. She held a video-conference with them on Monday, though on all issues, Mid-day meal issue dominated the discussions. She has referred to the recent tragedy occurred in Bihar where 22 innocent school children died, reportedly of "poisoning of food". She has directed the officials to form three teams each for every Mandal to visit the schools and conduct inspections on the quality of food that is being served to children. "MEOs, MDOs and Officers from other departments such as Social Welfare shall be the members of the teams. They should constantly go around and check the quality. They should also let the government know of their findings regularly" Vani Mohan learnt to have advised them. Raising the issue of unhygienic conditions in which the food is cooked and served, the commissioner said- "Many complaints have been received with regard to the surroundings. The area shall be devoid of any litter, scrap material, mud etc. The cooking utensils shall also be washed regularly" she was said to have stated. Some DEOs complained that the raw food articles that are being supplied to schools have also been not of good quality, she advised them to immediately bring it to the notice of the district collector. The DEOs have also informed her that many of the women appointed as cooks in the schools have not been maintain the standards as required by the authorities.