Maharashtra issues SOPs to strengthen midday-meal safety in schools

In addition to educating stakeholders on potential causes of food contamination, the SOPs outline specific responsibilities for all persons involved in midday-meal scheme implementation, including School Management Committees (SMCs), school principals, teachers, cooks and helpers, and local education officers.

SMCs are responsible for ensuring that cooks and helpers undergo medical check-ups every six months. They are also tasked with overseeing the safe storage of raw ingredients, proper cleaning of utensils and plates, and maintaining hand-washing facilities in schools to ensure students wash their hands before meals.

For contractors supplying raw ingredients for the midday meals, local education inspectors are directed to inspect storage facilities monthly. If a facility is found unclean, the contractor will be fined Rs50,000, which can increase to Rs 1 lakh if the premises remain unhygienic during a second inspection.

While these SOPs aim to tighten oversight and prevent mishaps, teachers point out that effective implementation is a challenge, especially in rural parts.

“If anything goes wrong, the school is held responsible. These SOPs now also hold education officers accountable, which is welcome, but what we need is effective implementation,” said a school principal from Palghar.