The South Delhi Municipal Corporation is considering organisations, which had allegedly failed to maintain standards in the past or had been black-listed by other government agencies, for supplying midday meals to its primary schools, the Opposition Congress has alleged.
The SDMC, which operates 579 primary schools where about three lakh students are enrolled, is in the process of renewing contracts for providing midday meals.
Last month, the Education Department had placed the proposal before the Education Committee, which has now passed it along to the Standing Committee. While the Standing Committee is yet to decide, officials have short-listed five NGOs for the job. Of these, three are currently supplying midday meals to the SDMC, while two are new entrants.
No agreement final
The agreements are yet to be finalised, but the Congress says the SDMC is about to outsource the work to organisations that have either been black-listed or whose food samples have failed testing.
Farhad Suri, the Leader of the Opposition in the SDMC, said: “Among the NGOs selected is one that has been black-listed. Samples of those that are currently supplying midday meals have failed tests for required protein levels and calorific content.”
He added that one of the agencies being considered had been indicted by a court.
In fact, the Education Department has admitted in an internal document, a copy of which is with The Hindu , that over 50 per cent of samples taken from the existing suppliers in the past three years have failed.
A total of 165 samples were taken from kitchens run by Ekta Shakti Foundation, Iskcon Food Relief Foundation and Jay Gee Humanitarian Society from 2013-2014 till 2015-2016. Of these, 93 samples in total failed.
Citing this, Mr. Suri asked: “Why are organisations that are providing sub-standard food to children not being penalised and being allowed to enter into new contracts.”
However, the BJP leadership of the SDMC denied the charges. Subhash Arya, the Leader of the House, said that the results of tests had changed when the testing methodology changed.
‘Meals failed test’
“The midday meals have not failed. Earlier, the tests of calorific value were done on uncooked rice and wheat, and there was no problem. But, when the tests started to be done on cooked food, samples of midday meals across Delhi – both corporation and government schools – began failing,” said Mr. Arya.
He said that the raw materials for the midday meal scheme was being provided by the Delhi government, so if the quality of ration is improved, the cooked food would as well.
He added that the SDMC would look into the other allegations, and assured that no black-listed organisations would be given a contract.
