In the wake of the death of scores of schoolchildren in Bihar after consuming mid-day meal, North Delhi Mayor Azad Singh on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection of kitchens preparing food for students. The food samples were randomly picked and sent to Shriram laboratory for quality testing.
The Mayor has instructed that a five-member committee, will test the food before it is served to the students. Officials said three kitchens of the non-Governmental organisations (NGOs), which supply mid-day meals to the municipal schools in North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) areas, were inspected during the wee hours on Wednesday. “Mid-day meal will not to be served to children in schools before they are tested by the five-member committee,” Mayor Azad Singh directed.
During the check, Singh inspected kitchens of NGOs in Budhpur, Alipur and Ranhaula, which supply mid-day meals to NMC schools. The Mayor was accompanied by Additional Commissioner (Education) MSA Khan and Additional Director (Education) Jasram Kaim.
Expressing grief over the death of school children in Bihar, Singh said that strict directions have been given to all schools in NMC areas, not to serve mid-day meal to children before being tested. Khan said that four samples of mid-day meal have been lifted from the kitchens and its report will come within a week. “As per the Mayor’s order, five-member committee constituted at school-level from Parent Teacher Association (PTA) will test the food quality 15 minutes before being served to the children,” he added.