Periodical supervision now a must

“Facilitation of the mid-day meal scheme through central kitchens was ordered on June 18, 2009. But the Bombay High Court had received several petitions challenging the Centre’s policy decision allowing central kitchens to become the facilitator for providing nutritious cooked meals to schoolchildren. The court dismissed the petitions and upheld the government’s decision, stating at the same time that it was necessary to ensure hygiene and cleanliness in the central kitchens through an independent authority,” says the notification.

The state will take the help of home science, hotel management and catering technology institutes, who will be part of the authority. The committee will have to meet once every 15 days.

“From the pre-cooking stage to the distribution chain, the monitoring has to be comprehensive. The food provided to schoolchildren will have to be first tasted by the supervisors. The food should be regularly tested from notified National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or government labs. In a year, 20 laboratory tests have to be conducted compulsorily. A committee under a municipal corporation and a municipal council will have to ensure the quantity of food, as mentioned in the guidelines, is adhered to. There cannot be any compromise on both quality and quantity. There is a need to create an environment in which cleanliness and hygiene is inculcated and not thrust upon,” says the notification.