New Committee to be formed to look into qualitative aspects of mid-day meal scheme

Expressing concern over the mid-day meal food poisoning tragedy in Bihar, Human Resources Development Minister MM Pallam Raju, said today that a committee would be formed to look into the qualitative aspects of the mid-day meal programme to ensure that such incidents do not occur again.

"We have decided that we will form another committee that will look into the qualitative aspects of the implementation of the programme, including the quality of food supplied, the effectiveness of the supply chain and the hygiene of the place where it is cooked," he told the media here today.

He also said that the mid-day meal scheme is an integral part of the schooling system and all efforts would be made to ensure that the scheme is strengthened and implemented well.

'We have a mid day meal monitoring committee that meets twice a year and it is also looking into the aspect very deeply and if there are any shortcomings, it warns the respective states about it and we expect the states to follow up on that," he added.

Pallam Raju said that as of now there is a Vigilance and Monitoring committee constituted in every district in which all the MP's of that district are members. "We will ensure that they also look into these aspects because it is important for us to strengthen the mechanism for implementing the scheme properly," he added.

According to reports, 23 children have died so far after eating a free mid-day meal at their school in Bihar's Chhapra district on July 16.

More than 30 others are undergoing treatment at the Patna Medical College and Hospital. They were admitted to the hospital after consuming mid-day meals served to them at a government primary school in Dahrmasati village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Mashrakh Block, about 25 kilometers from Chhapra on Tuesday.

The children are reportedly aged between 8 and 12 years. They fell ill soon after eating the meal which consisted rice, pulses and soybeans.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Nitish Kumar has also announced a compensation of two lakh rupees each to the families of the deceased. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has sent a senior official to Chhapra to take stock of the situation.