Dy CM admits of lapses in Mid Day Meal Scheme

Hyderabad : Deputy Chief Minister (Education) Kadiam Srihari on Wednesday admitted there were some lapses in implementing the Mid Day Meal Scheme in Telangana State.

Replying to a question raised by MLC Dr. Bhoopathi Reddy in Legislative Council, he said that certain incidents regarding quality of the food served; food not served as per the Menu fixed; misutilization in the claiming of bills and lack of proper systems while serving Mid Day Meals to the children, have come to the notice of the government. In all such cases, he said, action has taken against the persons liable i.e., the Cooking Agencies involved or Head Masters/Teachers responsible for the proper implementation of this Programme, besides recovery of the misutilized amount, proved in an enquiry.

During 2017-18, sufficient budget was released in advance to avoid any delay in payments to the Cooking Agencies and Cooks cum Helpers and it is monitored regularly in the Office of the Commissioner and Director of School Education, TS., Hyderabad.

Kadiam said that the DEOs/MEOs have to inspect and supervise this Programme and the School Management Committees are also made responsible to monitor at the school point. Apart from this, Third Party evaluations are also done through Organizations like National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) and Director, Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency functioning under the Rural Development Department.