lakhs of students in primary schools of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) are being given poor quality food by NGOs entrusted with the mid-day meal task, according a survey conducted by the NMC.
Though not found adulterated, 100 per cent samples of the mid-day meal supplied to the students have failed the nutrition test conducted by the corporation. In the survey report, 75 per cent of the samples failed on the counts of protein level and calorific value, the remaining 25 per cent samples either lacked protein content or calories. As per the norms, the food given to each student should have 450 calories and 12 grams of protein.
After the mid-day meal tragedy in a school in Bihar, the NMC had begun sampling of food being prepared in the kitchens of the NGOs providing the mid-day meal in its schools.
“After reports of poor food quality, the civic body has freezed the security deposit of all three NGOs. Hefty penalty will be imposed on the contractors,” said Ram Kishan Singhal, Chairman of the Standing Committee, NMC.
However, the leader of Opposition in the corporation, Mukesh Goel, demanded blacklisting of the NGOs for compromising with food quality and sought a thorough investigation into the matter.
According to the report, 27 out of the 36 samples were found lacking in nutritional value. The samples were lifted from various kitchens run for the mid-day meal, and sent for nutritional test to Shriram Institute for Industrial Research between January 1 and June 30 this year.
“Out of 36 samples, 27 samples were found to be short on the prescribed limits of protein and calorific value. Six others failed on calorific value, but had the required protein level; while the rest three failed on count of protein,” said an NMC official.
“last year, only 17 out of the 69 food samples were found having appropriate protein content while only six samples were rich in calorific value. The remaining 46 samples were short on both counts — protein and calorie,” the report added.
Municipal Commissioner PK Gupta said the education department of the North Corporation has sought opinion of the Delhi Government, which is the nodal agency for the mid-day meal scheme, for initiating punitive action against the NGOs.
"The guidelines are very clear if food is found to be adulterated. But in case of nutritional value, their is no clarity over the issue. We have already written to concerned department of the Delhi Government asking them to advise what action can be taken in this case. We will act accordingly once they revert on it," Gupta said.
It is noteworthy that three NGOs have been given the contracts for providing mid-day meals in the schools run by the NMC. While the two NGOs — Surya Charitable Welfare Society, Maitri Research and Development Foundation — have a kitchen each, another NGO Stri Shakti has two kitchens to prepare mid-day meals. The three NGOs collectively supply mid-day meals to 4.10 lakh students in the NMC schools. According to the civic body, the corporation has 3.82 lakh students in its 765 primary schools, 22,000 students in nursery schools and the remaining 5,700 students are enrolled in the 23 aided schools.