Maharashtra government takes burden off principals in implementation of mid-day meal

In a move that is a huge relief to school principals, the state government has reduced the burden of midday meal scheme from their shoulders.

According to a government resolution (GR) dated February 26, the state has said the responsibility of providing midday meals to students in schools in rural areas will be on women self-help groups. The changes in the scheme were introduced after discussions with principals' associations, which had called for a boycott of board exams starting August 16, 2013.

The government has now allowed the school management to appoint a self-help group to take responsibility for implementation of the scheme in the state. It has also entrusted the responsibility of grain storage with members of the appointed self-help groups.

Providing a solution to the principals' complaint of being overburdened by administrative work, the state has asked teachers to take responsibility on rotation basis and ensure the workload is shared.

The GR has also exempted the principals from being the first people to taste the meal. "The meal must be checked at three levels — first by the person who has cooked it, followed by a member of the school management committee and then the principal or a representing teacher," stated the GR.

While principals have welcomed the move, they are unhappy as the state has not fulfilled their demand for a device to check the quality of food. "We had asked for an electronic device which would help us determine the quality but that has not been sanctioned in the GR. Just three people tasting it won't ensure safety against poisoning," said Prashant Redij, member of the Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary School Principals' association (MSSHSSPA).

Members of MSSHSSPA and officials from the state's primary education department had formed a committee to propose changes in the existing midday meal scheme.