The much-lauded initiative of Gujarat government to serve breakfast to government schoolkids, besides midday meals, seems to be partially successful as the scheme has been benefitting only a handful.
"Our children only get mid-day meal and no breakfast. Even the menu of the midday meal is very simple, whereas the menu of Western Ahmedabad schools is much better in terms of variety and nutritional value. Our menu includes dal, rice and khichdi. Ours is handled by Stree Shakti organisation," principal of Government Gujarati Medium School in Naroda said.
The crisis was an issue was also raised during Praveshotsav, a programme that aims to enrol students in class I and toddlers in Anganwadis. During his visit to Manipur primary school in July, Arvind Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Forests & Environment Department, was shocked after he raised the issue with the school authority, mid-day meal staff and the students.
The truth came out after he enquired if the kids are getting food in time and asked the students about breakfast.
"There could be some teething issues, but there is no issue with the finance part so maybe some administrative level issue would be there. I will take up the issue with Women and Child Development," he said.
"We have received complaints from parents and schools and have forwarded the same to MDM department to look into the cause. We will take up this matter on priority," HG Trivedi, Mamlatdar, Sanand said.
Nilam Goswami, principal of Shela Primary School, said the kids at her school don't get the breakfast. "There has been a representation to mamlatdar of Sanand who is looking into the issue," she said. Speaking to DNA, state education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said, "This should not happen. But if this is the case, I will ask District Education Officer (DEO) and District Education Primary Officer (DPEO) to address the issue immediately."
"I visit schools in east Ahmedabad daily. The quality of the midday meal is very poor. I have also visited the kitchen where the food is being made. As per the RTE Act, food has to be cooked and served fresh but for these kids, the food is prepared a day prior. Akshayapatra, that serves food in West Ahmedabad, is of good quality. They serve on time every day, offer variety and the food is made fresh," a social worker who works in the education sector, on request of anonymity, said. In 2017, the state government had announced the inclusion of breakfast to the midday meal.
BREAKFAST ITEMS
- Sukhdi, Chana Chat, Muthiya, Thepla, Usal
- Children are supposed to get chana chat, muthiya, sukhdi, mixed dal in breakfast whereas sukhi bhaji. dudh-chana shak, dal-dhokli, vegetable pulav for lunch
4 lakh – children get food every day by Akshaya Patra in Gujarat
1.45 lakh – children under the age of six years in Gujarat were suffering from the worst category of malnutrition, Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
5.13 lakh – children were suffering from malnourishment and anaemia, School Health Programme (SHP), said in 2015
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mid-day meals")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}