In an effort to improve the conditions for serving mid-day meal in schools, 31,213 kitchen sheds, each costing Rs.75,000, will be constructed in the first phase and 13,103 in the second phase, HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao has said.
Formally launching mid-day meal at Nehru Municipal School at Sitammadhara, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said 18,000 toilets would be constructed in schools. Power Finance Corporation, NTPC and such agencies would be roped in under corporate social responsibility.
Providing mid-day meal was being handed over experimentally to Akshya Patra Foundation in 75 schools covering 16,810 students and to ISKCON for another 15,700 students in 70 schools in the district, he said.
The move was aimed at tackling the complaints related to quantity, quality, and hygiene.
Fund allocation
The government was determined to improve the education sector and in spite of facing deficit budget of Rs.17,000 crore after bifurcation it increased allocation last year and this year by 10 per cent. Appointment of more than 10,000 teachers selected in DSC would also be made.
Later in an interaction with media, the Minister said he respected Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct but participated in the formal launch of mid-day meal since it was a programme going on for several years now.
Akshaya Patra Foundation unit president Niskinchana Bhakta Dasa said since eight years mid-day meal was being provided to seven ZP schools at Gajuwaka and Peda Gantyada and 304 anganwadi centres providing nutrition supplement to 40,000 children and lactating and pregnant women. The mid-day meal programme was launched in 2000 to utilise capacity of its kitchens in temples and covers 14 lakh children all over the country. Strict hygiene and taste standards were being followed with regular monitoring with testing periodically for nutritional values.
Following a suggestion from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha member K. Haribabu, Visakahpatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju said he would visit the Nehru Municipal School once in a month to taste the food.
Mr. Haribabu made the suggestion when Mr. Raju asked students to bring to his notice any complaints through the headmaster.
Schools closed
Mr. Srinivasa Rao warned private schools not to admit students without government permission and so far 58 unrecognised schools were seized in the district and on Monday, when schools re-opened, 20.
Meanwhile, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju launched the mid-day meal, being prepared by ISKCON, at KDPM High School, China Waltair, on Monday.
Founder of Prema Hospital S.V. Adinarayana and others were present.
