The Indian Express 18.07.2013
After Bihar tragedy, PCMC decides to review its midday meal scheme
midday meal, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has decided to
review its system of serving food to primary school students. The PCMC
has allotted nearly 50 per cent of the midday meal work to ISKCON, while
rest of the work has been assigned to self-help groups and other
private parties.
Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said he would review the
midday meal scheme that has been put in place by the civic body. “After
what happened in Bihar, we will review our midday meal scheme,” he said.
Activists and members of self-help groups said midday meal raises
questions of hygiene. “In some places in Pimpri-Chinchwad, midday meal
is cooked near gutters and nullahs as the parties do not have proper
space. If food is cooked near such places, how can we ensure hygiene and
the health of children?” asked Anita Landge, president of Damini Bachat
Gat, a self-help group. Bachat gats are run by 18 members who are
mainly housewives. “The members are not from well-to-do families. They
run the gats just because they have to. But does that mean we will
compromise with the health of children. If the quality of the
preparations are checked, only then the PCMC will realise what is
actually happening at the ground level,” Landge said.
Sulbha Ubale, president of the Pimpri Chinchwad Bachat Gat
Mahasangh, said the midday meal provided by PCMC does not have quality.
“There are frequent complaints from children and parents about the
quality of the food served. It seems PCMC officials are not keen on
keeping a tab on how the food is prepared. If they inspect the food
preparation closely, I am sure they will be shocked to see the lack of
hygiene conditions in places from where they operate,” she said.
Ubale said PCMC should instead implement the ‘Central Kitchen’ plan.
“If there is a centralised kitchen, the problem of quality and
transportation could be resolved to a large extent. Also if PCMC allots
space for kitchens in the schools itself, the hygiene problem will be
solved. Kitchens in schools would also help serve hot and fresh meals
which is very necessary since we are talking of providing nutritious
food to children,” she said.
In past few years, at least six-seven incidents of worms found in
midday meal has been reported. In one incident, several students fell
ill after eating food served by ISKCON. However, it was later revealed
that the food served had no problem. Civic officials suspected that it
might have been an act of sabotage as certain sections opposed the
contract be given to ISCKON.
