Our Correspondent
KOHIMA SEPTEMBER 16
The Mid-Day Meal scheme was introduced by the government of India primarily with the objective to motivate children to attend schools, besides improving their health. The scheme has been implemented in the state of Nagaland by the School Education department since 1995. In Nagaland, the scheme is being implemented with active participation of the Village Education Committees (VECs), Self Help Groups and involvement of social stakeholders such as parents and teachers’ associations other than departmental officials.
However, it has been noted that except for a handful of schools, the scheme has not seen tangible results as to what it actually intended to in the state.
In this regard, the department of School Education organized a seminar about the Mid Day Meal scheme on Wednesday, September 16, in the Zonal Council Hall in Kohima town. The idea was to sensitize officials and others on the scheme and aspects of implementation. A manual titled ‘Implementation manual for Mid Day Meal Scheme’ has also been published. The manual has been developed incorporating guidelines of safety issued by the government of India, management structure at all levels, the roles and responsibilities, and records that are to be maintained at various levels for effective implementation of the scheme.
Delivering the keynote address Commissioner & Secretary FP Solo said it was ‘very fortunate’ to have young, brilliant and dynamic minister Yitachu as its leader who is “very concerned about the department and also the need to bring about reforms and changes for the betterment and improvement of the department.”
The bureaucrat asked officers and members at the event to take advantage and render their best efforts. He said it was possible that for changes to take place in the education department in the years to come.
Commenting on the revised guidelines, Solo informed that there is a new management structure in place at the state, district and sub divisional level with the Department of School Education as the Nodal officer at the state level.
While strongly pointing out that the department will not implement MDM just for the sake of availing the centrally sponsored schemes, he asked the nodal officers at different levels to learn and discharge their duties responsibilities properly. He also asked all concerned to thoroughly go through the handbook, clarify doubts and implement the MDM scheme properly and religiously in their respective districts and sub-divisions.
He also impressed upon the members present that there will be more transparency in the implementation of the scheme, in the sense that funds will be transferred only through bank account, wherein there will be no cash transactions under any circumstances. In this regard he stressed on the need for all those SMCs and VECs to open a bank account else it will not receive any money under the scheme.
Also informing that the department is going to purchase some vehicles for transportation of food grains from SDEOs offices to the school, however he also made it clear that vehicles should be utilized as per the guidelines, and for effective implementation of the scheme and also for monitoring purposes. The DEOs and SDEOs will be allowed to use the vehicles to inspect and visit the schools.
He also expressed doubt on whether the steering cum monitoring at the state, district and block level in place are really active and performing their responsibilities assigned to them, and stressed on the need to revive and reactive these committees for more effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
‘The one factor which is standing in the way of effective implementation of the scheme is the untimely and delay release of funds for the scheme’ he pointed out, and asked all to explore ways to continue the scheme through locally or community resources even if they don’t get money on time and said it won’t object if they can make arrangement to divert some fund from other schemes in implementation of the scheme. He also assured that if the scheme can properly implemented, it can mobilize lot of pressure for timely release of funds.
While pointing out that most of the problems faced in the department stems from effective monitoring, supervisions mechanism, and thereby projecting the poor image of the department in the recent years, he stressed on the need to restore the image of the department and also win the trust and confidence of the people though proper implementation of the various schemes like MDN, distributions of text books and uniforms etc.
Stating that MDM is one scheme which has the potential to bring a lot of improvement in our school environment with one of the objective is to attract children to the school and provide some nutrition to the children, he said the department is welcome to suggestions for improvising the implementation of the scheme.
He, therefore, encouraged the SMCs to introduce new menu using locally available materials and resources, and to come up with innovations and new ideas and introduce the MDM in their respective schools.
Concluding his address he said this is one opportunity to prove that education department is also capable of delivering if given a free hand, he sought the support and cooperation of all to not miss or misuse the opportunity and implement the MDM scheme honestly.
Zaveyi Nyekha, Director & Nodal Officer for mid-Day Meal, highlighted the importance of food safety and hygiene said that the scheme should contain adequate nutrients and should be palatable, hygienic and operationally feasible, while also pointing out that quality assurance of MDM and food safety should be an integral part of food handling procedures at the school kitchen.
He also asked the field officers to impart education on cleanliness, good manners and etiquettes to the students and teachers as well stating that all these are a part of the MDM scheme.
He also shared his concerned on the lack of monitoring and supervision in the Directorate in many of its functioning and system. In relating to this, he said the Government of India has stated its displeasure on the implementation and system of the MDM scheme and other centrally sponsored schemes in the State.
At the same time, he also disclosed that during a meeting held with the government officers in Kohima recently, he failed to give any answer when asked on the good practice of mid day meal, stating that when the state government has failed to give its share of 10%, a former commissioner has always wrote a full receipt of the same in his reports, wherein it has been caught by the AG this time.
He also asked the teachers and all others involved in the implementation of MDM to desist from distributing the food grains among themselves meant for the school children, but to honestly implement the MDM for the benefit of all. Stating that ‘we are all agents of change’ he encouraged the officers and staff in the education department to make an effort to change the system, and also to get themselves acquainted with the modern world.
Assistant directors, registrars, officials, and members of the staff of planning section, and other education officials attended the event.
