NDMC schools’ staffers panned for ‘unhygienic’ mid-day meals

North Corporation Standing Committee Chairman Pravesh Wahi pulled up staffers of two corporation-run schools on Tuesday, after he found the mid-day meals provided to students there ‘unhygienic’ and of ‘poor quality’.

Wahi and a team of Education Department officials inspected two primary schools in outer Delhi’s Pooth Kalan village and Krishan Vihar in Rohini Zone.

He also directed the officials to collect samples of food from these schools and send them to a private laboratory for testing. “The puri provided there was so tough that I suffered a stomachache after eating it. I have directed the Commissioner to launch an inquiry,” Wahi said. He further said the NGOs responsible for providing cooked meals will be monitored closely.

According to corporation sources, it was the first time since the trifurcation of civic bodies in 2012 that an elected member inspected schools to check the quality of mid-day meals. The move comes at a time when contracts with NGOs roped in for the service are to be renewed.

“Samples of mid-day meal have been collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. Though the condition of the kitchen was satisfactory, the food samples checked were of poor quality and the quantity being provided was also less,” a senior official said.

He added that the problem was that the nutritional value was not easy to be monitored at all times.

The north corporation has 588 schools under it, in which mid-day meals are provided to nearly 3.5 lakh children. “Strict action will be taken against the agencies concerned, in case of any violation in the prescribed standards for meals,” Wahi said.

Meanwhile, the south corporation has proposed in its 2017-18 budget that four kitchens will be set up in each of the four zones to monitor and control the quality of mid-day meals given to students.