After repeated incidents of school children falling sick following consumption of the mid-day meal, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has suggested that the Union government change the system of serving the meal under the scheme. In a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mayawati has said that in the implementation of the mid-day-meal scheme, use of sub-standard food grains and oils have come to light and this has been known to adversely affects the health of the children, she said.
Addressing the mediapersons at her 5 Kalidas Marg residence here on Wednesday, she said, at present the meals were being prepared with the use of sub-standard quality of food grains and oils. “I have suggested to the Prime Minister that pre-cooked and frozen food be served to the children, which could be served after heating or permission should be granted for serving fruits”.
At present, the food grain is supplied by Food Corporation of India, while the oil is purchased of the local level.
Hoping that the Union government would seriously consider her request, Mayawati said until the time the Central government accepted these suggestions, the state government has made the CDO and the BSA responsible for the successful implementation of this scheme at the district level and the purchase of loose oil and ghee has been banned.