Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Goa Forward Party (GFP) today has written to Chief Secretary demanding to release of payments of Women Self Help Groups supplying Mid Day Meal.
“The food provided to poor school students under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme is supplied by several self-help groups from across the state. As you are aware, these self-help groups are non-profit organizations that provide a source of livelihood to their members,” said GFP Leader Durgadas Kamat.
He further said that their income is adversely affected by rising food and gas prices as well as expenditure incurred on travel.
“Timely payment of what is due to them by the government is critical to sustaining their operations. Unfortunately, we have received many grievances and complaints in this regard,” he added.
Kamat said that Government has a lot of funds for PR, Events, Hoardings etc, but unfortunately, they don’t have funds for Children’s Food.
“During the January 2023 Legislative Assembly session, The President of Goa Forward, Vijai Sardesai, had asked for the details of such dues kept pending by the Department of Education to the various self-help groups. The total amount comes to Rs 3,75,36,441. This is not an acceptable state of affairs,’ he added.
Meanwhile, GFP has requested the state government to issue appropriate directions to the concerned department to release the payments without further delay and on priority.
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