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Agartala, Aug 01, 2011 : All eight northeastern states have resolved to demand more central funds for carrying on the midday meal programme in schools across their states. This was resolved in a one-day seminar on the issue in the government-run Prajna Bhawan auditorium here on Saturday last in presence of representatives of all eight NE states , joint secretary of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry Dr Amarjit Singh and additional secretary B.D. Shivani who presided over the seminar . A senior official from the education department of West Bengal government also attended the seminar.
The representatives in their speeches pointed out that Rs 2.60 sanctioned per head for students from class I to V and Rs 3.10 sanctioned for students from class VI to VIII have become inadequate for running the programme because of spiraling prices of food-items. 'The states are required to spend additional 20 paisa per head for students though we in Tripura have been spending 50 paisa additionally per head for students in both the categories but even this is not proving enough now' said a official of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Tripura.
He added that Centre has been sanctioning Rs 900 as monthly salary for cooks engaged for carrying out the programme but Tripura government has been paying Rs 1000 per month. 'We are making additional allocations for students by economizing in expenses meant for less important departments but this is also not enough as the Self-help Groups and in certain cases individuals executing programme have started clamouring for increased funds and quite legitimately' said SSA official .
As part of the midday meal programme students in Tripura are fed 'Khichiri' on Monday, egg curry on Tuesday and Thursday and vegetable curry mixed with soyabean on Wednesday and Friday while 'Payes' (Porridge) is served on Saturday. Due to lack of adequate sanctions Self Help Groups (SHGs) and individuals 'often compromise on quality' but have kept the programme going . 'In fact the fund sanction per head is meager and absolutely inadequate in running the programme but SHGs and individuals who draw payments on the basis of students daily attendance manage to keep their head over water with difficulty because all the students attending schools do not partake of the food served but soaring prices of commodities are making things almost impossible' said sources. .
While speaking in the seminar all the representatives observed that inadequate fund sanction was telling upon the programme and unless higher central funding was available it would collapse soon. The union HRD ministry's joint secretary, Dr Amarjit Singh said that the central government was planning to constitute a national committee with representatives from all states to go into the snags affecting the midday meal programme and suggest a comprehensive remedial action programme.
To maintain the accounts and stocks for mid-day meal, Dr Singh also stressed on for introduction of a ‘Management Information system (MIS) in all NE states.
He added that Uttar Pradesh government had achieved enormous success by adopting online MIS for mid-day meal programme.
Dr Singh told that to run the mid-day meal scheme successfully, a study team had been formed under the 12th five years plan.
Banmali Sinha, Principal Secretary of School Education department of Tripura has been selected as member of the ‘Study team’ from NE states.
Later, Union joint secretary also held a meeting with representatives of the SHGs engaged in implementing the programme and noted down their views and problems they are facing.
Agartala, Aug 01, 2011 : All eight northeastern states have resolved to demand more central funds for carrying on the midday meal programme in schools across their states. This was resolved in a one-day seminar on the issue in the government-run Prajna Bhawan auditorium here on Saturday last in presence of representatives of all eight NE states , joint secretary of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry Dr Amarjit Singh and additional secretary B.D. Shivani who presided over the seminar . A senior official from the education department of West Bengal government also attended the seminar.
The representatives in their speeches pointed out that Rs 2.60 sanctioned per head for students from class I to V and Rs 3.10 sanctioned for students from class VI to VIII have become inadequate for running the programme because of spiraling prices of food-items. 'The states are required to spend additional 20 paisa per head for students though we in Tripura have been spending 50 paisa additionally per head for students in both the categories but even this is not proving enough now' said a official of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Tripura.
He added that Centre has been sanctioning Rs 900 as monthly salary for cooks engaged for carrying out the programme but Tripura government has been paying Rs 1000 per month. 'We are making additional allocations for students by economizing in expenses meant for less important departments but this is also not enough as the Self-help Groups and in certain cases individuals executing programme have started clamouring for increased funds and quite legitimately' said SSA official .
As part of the midday meal programme students in Tripura are fed 'Khichiri' on Monday, egg curry on Tuesday and Thursday and vegetable curry mixed with soyabean on Wednesday and Friday while 'Payes' (Porridge) is served on Saturday. Due to lack of adequate sanctions Self Help Groups (SHGs) and individuals 'often compromise on quality' but have kept the programme going . 'In fact the fund sanction per head is meager and absolutely inadequate in running the programme but SHGs and individuals who draw payments on the basis of students daily attendance manage to keep their head over water with difficulty because all the students attending schools do not partake of the food served but soaring prices of commodities are making things almost impossible' said sources. .
While speaking in the seminar all the representatives observed that inadequate fund sanction was telling upon the programme and unless higher central funding was available it would collapse soon. The union HRD ministry's joint secretary, Dr Amarjit Singh said that the central government was planning to constitute a national committee with representatives from all states to go into the snags affecting the midday meal programme and suggest a comprehensive remedial action programme.
To maintain the accounts and stocks for mid-day meal, Dr Singh also stressed on for introduction of a ‘Management Information system (MIS) in all NE states.
He added that Uttar Pradesh government had achieved enormous success by adopting online MIS for mid-day meal programme.
Dr Singh told that to run the mid-day meal scheme successfully, a study team had been formed under the 12th five years plan.
Banmali Sinha, Principal Secretary of School Education department of Tripura has been selected as member of the ‘Study team’ from NE states.
Later, Union joint secretary also held a meeting with representatives of the SHGs engaged in implementing the programme and noted down their views and problems they are facing.
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