Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 12 2009:
To solve the problem of inadequate number of cooks appointed under the Mid Day Meal programme for providing cooked meals to the students, the State Government has now decided to appoint cooks in proportion to the number of students.
An official source pointed out that even though the Government has appointed one cook in every school, there would be problem if the number of students in some schools happen to over 300 .
In such a case, it would be difficult for the lone cook to prepare meal for all the students.
Keeping this in mind, the Government has decided to appoint cooks in proportionate to the number of students.
The Central Government has also given its approval to this proposal, the source disclosed, adding that in this regard, a joint meeting of all the officials concerned of the State Government was also held yesterday to discuss the matter.
In the said meeting, all the district administrations have been entrusted to submit datas on the number of students in each schools under their respective jurisdiction.
Based on the datas to be furnished by the district administrations, a report would be made for submission to the Government of India by last week of the current month, the source informed.
Explaining that earlier the State Government used to provide the required fund for appointment of the cooks and purchasing fire woods, the source explained that in the new arrangement the expenditure required for appointment of cooks would be shared on the funding pattern of 90:10 between the Centre and the State Government.
It may be noted here that the appointment of cooks under the Mid Day Meal Programme had been carried out in accordance to the laid down guidelines by the respective management committee of the schools.
Besides, the kitchens already constructed under the Mid-Day Meal scheme, the Government of India has also reportedly given approval for construction of new kitchens.
According to the official source, the estimated cost of the kitchen to be newly constructed is Rs 60,000.The estimation has been finalised by the Government of India.
The amount of the daily allowance for purchasing vegetables for the children too would be increased.
Earlier, it was Rs 1.87 per student upto primary stage.
Now it would be increased to Rs 2.35.For the students of upper primary level, the daily allowance would be increased from Rs 2.15 to little more than Rs 3, the source disclosed.