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| Petitions Committee stresses for effective monitoring of mid-day meal scheme | | | Jammu, March 15
The Petitions Committee of Legislative Assembly has stressed upon the Education Department to streamline the functioning of mid-day meal scheme presently applicable throughout the State so that benefits reach the needy. The Committee suggested various measures for effective monitoring of the scheme for achieving desired results.
The Petitions Committee, which met here today with MLA Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma in chair examined various petitions filed before it. In today’s meeting the Committee examined a Petitions filed by some aggrieved persons of District Kathua whose wages have not been paid by the concerned authorities for the last some years. The petitioners pleaded in their plaint that the education authorities engaged them as cooks/helpers for preparing meals for the school children when the scheme was initially launched, but have not received their wages. They have requested the Committee for its intervention in releasing their wages.
The Committee discussed instant case in detail with the officers of Education Department and issued directions for resolving the issue at the earliest and action taken report to be submitted to the Committee. The Committee also directed the authorities to inquire the matter and pinpoint responsibility and initiate suitable action against the erring officials.
While discussing the broader view of the mid-day meal scheme, the Committee observed that the study of the students should not be hampered while implementing the scheme and there should be separate cell for implementing and monitoring the scheme at higher level. The Committee further viewed that there should be separate space for cooking and feeding adjoining the school premises. The emphasis was also laid for providing quality food to the children under the scheme.
While briefing the Committee, Secretary Education Mr. K.M.Wani said that mid-day meal scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented in all government primary schools of the State and monitored by Chief Education Officers and Zonal Education Officers at district and zonal levels. He said that over 17,000 primary schools are in the State wherein over 11 lakh students are studying in these schools who are getting benefit of this scheme. He admitted that the authorities at school levels are facing some problems, but overall the scheme is running satisfactorily.
Mr. Wani further stated that the Central Government has announced that the scheme would be extended upto middle school level for which infrastructural facilities would be improved. This includes construction of one kitchen and storeroom in the premises of schools so that the arrangements may not hamper the studies of students. He also said that a proposal regarding creating of a separate monitoring cell for the scheme is also under consideration of the government. He apprised the Committee that during the current year the State has received the funds to the tune of Rs. 24 crore from the Central government against a requirement of Rs. 30 crore.
Those present in the meeting included legislators, Dr. Mehboob Baig, Dr. G.N.Bhat, Mr. Zahoor Mir, Mr. Faqir Nath, Mr. Sarfraz Khan, Mr. Sajjad Kichloo, Mr. Mohammad Aslam Khan, Secretary Rural Development Mr. M.S. Khan, Director School Education, Jammu Mr. D.K.Vaid, Director Rural Development, Jammu Mr. G.R.Bhagat and Additional Secretary Assembly Mr. Mohammad Ramzan.
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