Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant today informed and assured the House that Self Help Groups (SHGs) supplying midday meals to schools will not be replaced.
Chandrakant Shetye raised the issue of the menu for the Midday Meal in schools, questioning if the menu is being followed as per the list provided by the Nutrition Committee.
He also noted that the menu is not being followed and is not correlated with the actual menu.
In response, CM said, “We’ve been serving the food that the Nutrition Committee recommended. If any school disregards the recommended menu, we will take appropriate measures.”
“We have only signed an agreement; we haven’t assigned any schools to the Akshay Patra Organization for the Midday Meal program. Self-help organizations that serve Midday Meals also need to keep up a high standard of quality. We are not terminating our current Midday Meal providers.”
“Students in rural areas respond better to the midday meal than students in urban areas, who typically skip it. About 20% of students skip the midday meal due to a variety of reasons, according to CM
The CM also informed that Akshay Patra could provide mid day meals from Class IX to Class XII in future but the existing SHGs won’t be disturbed. He said that it could also be roped in to provide lunch during full-time school. Akshay Patra is on board, Goa government has signed an agreement.
Further, LoP Yuri Alemao alleged his LAQ seeking a copy of the MOU signed with Akshay Patra was disallowed, and contradictory reply by the Education Department and Health Department over a quality check of Mid Day Meal. CM Sawant denied the allegations.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai demanded that the government should provide quarterly payments to self-help groups that supply Midday Meals and offer annual increments.”
“There are many reasons for delays in payments, including system inefficiencies. We will implement a uniform online system to allow self-help groups to upload their bills online and receive payments promptly: CM
