Taking lessons from the Bihar mid day meal (MDM) tragedy, the State Government on Wednesday decided to provide five-point safety protocol to school head masters to maintain high standards of food quality under the MDM scheme to avoid any mishaps.
Talking to newsmen after the conclusion of a two-day sensitization programme for the District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs), School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda said that the protocol was all about maintaining quality and safety of food served under the MDM scheme and transportation, preservation and procurement of quality food materials.
Besides, he said that construction of kitchen sheds in left-out schools for MDM would be taken up within one month for which the DEOs and BEOs were asked to locate suitable places.
Nanda also said that a toll free telephone number would be installed to receive complaints from any one pertaining to the food quality and any irregularities in running the scheme.
According to official sources, the instructions being given would also include about first aid measures in case of food poisoning. For ensuring the high standards of hygiene, he said the DEOs and BEOs were asked to visit at least one school a day to monitor the scheme.
Besides, the Minister said that he himself and the Secretary and Director of the Department would visit at regular intervals different schools across the State to ensure that safe food is prepared and served to the kids.