Wants BBMP to fork out Rs. 8 for each midday meal provided to schoolchildren
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administration proposes, the elected body disposes. Or so it would seem. The ISKCON-backed Akshaya Patra Foundation, which provides midday meals to over 18,000 students in BBMP’s educational institutions, proposes to increase the cost per meal to Rs. 8 from Rs. 6.50. While the administration seems to have cleared it, the BBMP Standing Committee for Education and Sports is all set to shoot it down.
Committee chairperson B. Govindaraju told The Hindu that the cash-strapped BBMP would not be able to pay the extra the foundation was seeking.
“The State government pays much less to the foundation, even though rice is given by it (government). The government pays around Rs. 4.50 per meal. Also, it has been only a year since the rate was hiked to Rs. 6.50 from Rs. 4.50,” he said.
Inflation cited
He said that the foundation sought the increase citing inflation and increase in the cost of essential commodities, including pulses, oil and vegetables. “The BBMP cannot pay nearly double of what the government is paying for the midday meal. This is why the committee is unsure about approving the proposal,” Mr. Govindaraju said.
The standing committee is now contemplating making a provision for appreciation in the new contract with the foundation. “We want to follow the model adopted by the government. Its contract has a provision for increase in the cost per meal,” he said.
The explanation
Meanwhile, the BBMP administration feels that the proposed hike is justified. Joint Commissioner (Welfare and Education) Salma Fahim said the foundation prepares all the meals in a clean and hygienic environment. “Over the past year, the prices of essential commodities and fuel (diesel for the vehicles bringing the meals to schools) have increased. The foundation gets rice from the government and that is why it charges less for the meals provided to government schools.”
She said to provide meals for the BBMP schools, the foundation procures rice from the open market. “The maximum cost incurred is on rice. We were told that the foundation spends around Rs. 33 per kg of rice. Given the economics, we feel that the proposed hike is justified,” she added.
Two lakh others
Vinay Kumar, foundation’s general manager (operations), said the cost of provisions had gone up nearly 75 per cent over the last one year. “We procure the rice and transport the meals [for 18,000 students] to BBMP’s various educational institutions in the city. The cost of production cannot be calculated as we prepare the meals for two lakh students of government schools in the same kitchens,” he said.
To augment the increasing cost,out sourcing is the best way.Many rich people from India and abroad should contribute for such a noble cause.
....but the accounts have to be properly audited.
Akshaya Patra can learn from the TN govt 'Sathunavu thittam' that has been recommended by UN for generation of local employment apart from achieving higher education levels across a state, not just a city that too a hitech city at that. Where state govt of Karnataka needs to concentrate on education is in North KN, and poorer regions.
There is no reason for religious organizations to get into handling govt money, plus there is no reason for centralized cooking and spending precious resources on transportation. Mechanized cooking using imported machines is unjustified when employment can be generated using locally available resources.
APatra's motive is good, it has great corporate and NRI backing, why does it need state govt funding at all? It needs to spread to poorer sections of Karnataka if it wants to make a difference.
In every issue arising in public linking to ISKCON OR TAPF, particularly if it is from a politician, we have to fundamentally doubt the motives.
I presume there is a political lobby working against ISKCON bangalore/ & also TAPF providing mid day meal,(which is incresing year by year,) It is affecting other contractors who are providing such meals to jail inmates, hospitals & in some places to school children also. TAPF has made huge investments in creating most hygenic ultra moderen kitchen & hygenic packing and transportaion system for a million meals a day & there is no match anywhere.Considering the quality & nutitious food provided, the rate demanded by TAPF is reasonable and should be considered by BBMP favourably. The prcing can be linked & indexed to increase in Diesel & primary items like Rice & oil.
Why isnt the state govt able to supply basic facilities like lunch to all poor students? And on top of it, they dont want to pay a NGO to do the work! All this, while each politician and babu is worth crores.
we achieve a certain level of education for
these children which prime them into getting better jobs when they
become adults. This reduces the strain on our welfare state by reducing
the number of unemployed or under employed___suresh04
I believe governement can completely outsource the midday meal scheme to ISKCON. The Akshay Patra, as I know, has the expertise. Above all, they are passionate about doing this activity. If the governement gives out completely to Akshay patra, may be the scale can reduce the cost a little down. Alternatively, if government cannot afford, they can free the sales taxes, exise duties, surcharges for all the equipment, vehicles, machines that Akshay Patra procures.
Some politician or high official in the administration wants to pocket some money else such a minor hike should not pose any problem to any administration when it can shell out crores in some stupid beautification project in the city
Instead of spending 17 crore on doing some brain-less poojas for rain,
the money can be used for schemes such as this.
The cost benefit of midday meals works out as follows. Children are
given mid day meals so that they need not find jobs to feed themselves.
Also the meal is an incentive for their parents to send them to school.
By keeping them in school; we achieve a certain level of education for
these children which prime them into getting better jobs when they
become adults. This reduces the strain on our welfare state by reducing
the number of unemployed or under employed. Also better educated people
have less number of children improving their quality of lives. Invest
money don't spend it on give-aways!
It is funny to see how the government bodies are fighting when it comes to feeding children at school. Having known well the high quality of food provided by Akshaya Patra and having seen the price rise in the recent months, the increase in cost is justified. Can anyone show a poor politician? All big politicians of any political party is many times richer than an average reader of this website. But when it comes to giving quality food to children, they debate and fight over the cost! I pity you, India !
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