The Education Department of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has slapped a penalty of Rs 54,879 on an NGO (Stri Shakti Foundation) which was responsible for cooking mid- day meal meant for student of SDMC primary schools for not maintaining proper hygiene inside its kitchen.
According to a senior official of SDMC, in an inspection carried out by official of the education department it was found that the kitchen staff of the NGO was found to be involved in gross irregularities. "All staff of the NGO was found working without wearing aprons," he said.
The official further said that flies were also found in the kitchen area and a few workers were using dirty slippers. Considering the gravity of the matter, the NGO was issued a show cause notice and asked to submit a reply, he said.
A penalty was imposed after the reply was found unsatisfactory, he said. "It was opined after examination of the reply that NGO has failed to maintain proper hygienic conditions, hence this being a serious issue as pertaining to health of children" he said.