Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai visited the Ravindra Kelekar Dyanmandir School to inspect the quality of the mid-day meal provided by the local women’s self-help group. Sardesai assured that he would question the Chief Minister about why he is supporting Akshaya Patra over local women’s self-help groups for providing mid-day meals.
On Friday morning, Goa Forward Party chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai visited the Ravindra Kelekar Dyanmandir School in Madgaon. He was accompanied by Goa Forward Party leaders Prashant Naik and Durgadas Kamat.
During his visit, Sardesai went into classrooms and interacted with students about the quality of the mid-day meals. He asked whether they were satisfied with the meals they received at school. Several students informed Sardesai that they were served good quality homemade food.
After interacting with the students, Sardesai also tasted the mid-day meal along with them in the classroom.
Speaking to the media later, Sardesai said the local women’s self-help groups are doing a commendable job by providing nutritious, homemade food to school children. “This scheme was initiated in Goa by Manohar Parrikar, who decided to appoint self-help groups to provide the meals as a way to empower local women,” Sardesai stated. “Goans are known across India for preparing and consuming high-quality food. The students are clearly happy with the meals they’re getting. So, when this is the case, why does Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant want to displace these self-help groups and instead support the Akshaya Patra organisation?”
He further said, “The local self-help groups are working hard and providing excellent service, whereas Akshaya Patra relies on donations. I want to understand the reasons behind the Chief Minister’s support for Akshaya Patra. I will raise this issue in the forthcoming Assembly session,” he added.
