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Gastronomically challenged: Rising complaints over bad food in midday meals scheme.
Karnataka state has received 7 complaints in the 3 years since the MDMS has been initiated. According to an education department official, there were relatively fewer flaws in implementation in Karnataka. UP led the states in the number of complaints.
The Midday meal scheme (MDMS) has been marred with controversies right from its inception. However, the most dogged controversy which the scheme is simply unable to shake off is the complaints about poor quality food being served. These complaints have been on the rise across the country – 18 in 2013, 41 in 2014 and 48 in 2015. However, action was initiated against those responsible in only 32 cases.
Kerala deserves an honourable mention as it is the only state where not a single case relating to bad food was reported in 3 years. Even Karnataka managed to clean up its act in 2015 after 7 cases were reported in 2013 and 2014.
On the other end of the spectrum, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi reported a consistent rise in bad meals in schools over the 3 years. Data from the department of school education and literacy (DSEL) of the ministry of human resources and development (HRD) shows that action, like transfer or suspension of those responsible, was taken in 32 of the 107 cases.
If the states were to be ranked according to decreasing complaints relating to the scheme, including poor quality of food, misappropriation, irregularities and casteism, the states with the highest number of complaints are UP (71), Bihar (49), Jharkhand (16), West Bengal (15), Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra (14 each), and Delhi and Odisha (13 each). Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Tripura each reported only one case. Karnataka reported 7cases in all. This sums to a total of 280 cases reported between from 2013 and 2015.
A senior official in Karnataka's primary and secondary education department shared that compared to other states there were very few flaws in the implementation of the midday meal scheme in Karnataka. NGOs have partnered with the government and they supply nutritious and hygienic food from their centralized kitchens to schools, particularly in urban areas, he said.
A total of 314 NGOs are involved in supplying meals to schools in the country. About 112 NGOs are engaged in UP, 60 in West Bengal and 54 in Karnataka. Assam is getting a very little support from NGOs as a single organization supplies midday meals to schools in the state.