Mid Day Meals
In J&K State, mid day meal scheme has seen many ups and downs in the past several years. In many villages, the common people have been complaining about the implementation of this scheme at the ground level. The government also received lot of complaints about this scheme and it is implementation on ground. Based on the feed-back, State Administrative Council approved the action of the School Education Department in putting in place a mechanism for implementation of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme in Government Schools through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
The School Education Department had notified a mechanism vide Government Order No: 202-Edu of 2019, dated 17.06.2019 for implementation of the MDM through PRIs, which was confirmed by the SAC today. The preparation and distribution of MDM in Primary (1-5) and Middle (6-8) Schools shall be carried out by the Halqa Panchayats through a 10 member Community Level Committee headed by Sarpanch/Administrator or Panch nominated by the Sarpanch utilizing the services of cook-cum-helpers already engaged for the purpose. The Halqa Panchayat shall ensure preparation and distribution of MDM on each school day, fulfilling the minimum norms of nutrition prescribed under the scheme.
The funds for the purpose shall be managed by the Panchayati Raj Institutions from a separate MDM account held jointly by the Head of School and the Sarpanch/Administrator or his nominee Panch. The PRIs will ensure weekly check of MDM in Schools. The MDM Account of school will be jointly operated by Head of Institution and the Sarpanch/Administrator or Panch nominated by the Sarpanch.
The MDM preparation and distribution will be carried by same Committee, if Middle and Primary wings exist in the same school. Funds on account of working cost and honorarium for work-cum-helpers will be transferred to MDM Account as per the existing practice. The functions related to preparation and distribution of MDM in schools has been devolved to the PRIs in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act 1989.
