Licences for self-help groups soon in Pune

The process for issuing health licence to self-help groups (SHGs) involved in the mid-day meal scheme running in municipal schools will start within a month’s time.

More than 800 women of 197 SHGs, under the consortium of Savitri Small Savings Group, are involved in serving mid-day meals to nearly two lakh students in Pune’s 274 municipal schools.

The health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had decided to issue licences after the incident of food poisoning in a municipal school in Bopodi last year.

About 60 students of Dr Zakir Hussein Urdu primary school had complained of food poisoning after consuming the mid-day meal served to them.

In response to the incident, it was decided to issue licences to the SHGs to ensure tighter control over the meal-making process.
Dyaneshwar Molok, zonal commissioner UCD, stated that the process of issuing of licence will start in a month’s time.

“The Savitri Mahasangh has received applications and the formal process, which involves inspection by food inspectors, will start soon,” he said.

Also, in order to make the women members aware of various possible adulteration of raw material involved in the preparation of the meals, a special workshop was held at NV Gadgil School on Thursday. Senior officials from the public health laboratory addressed the women.