Mid-day meal to be monitored daily
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 07 2011: To monitor implementation of MidDay Meal scheme in Manipur on daily basis, an Interactive Voice Respond System is set to be introduced very soon.

According to reliable sources in the Department of Education (S), the proposed Interactive Voice Respond System is to be introduced through a network of mobile phones.

Under this system, one mobile phone would be provided to each of the schools where the Mid-Day Meal scheme is being implemented.

Through this mobile phone, officials in the Directorate would establish contact with the beneficiary schools on daily basis to find out whether the Mid-Day Meal Scheme is being implemented properly or not, sources disclosed.

Pointing out that appointment of one cook in each of the beneficiary schools for the implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme has created some difficulties in certain cases, the source explained that even though one cook may manage in a school where there is around 50 students, it is a problem in a school where there is around 100 students.

So, taking into consideration of this fact, the Dept has taken up steps towards appointment of cooks in proportionate to the number of students.

Under this initiative, one cook would be ensured in schools where the number of students is upto 75.If the number of students is between 76 to 175, two cooks would be appointed and three cooks in case the number of students is between 176 to 275, the source informed, adding that a proposal in this regard has already been submitted to the Government of India.

There is high hope that the proposal would be accepted by the Government of India and the Department would be able to implement it from April next, the source said, adding that arrangements are also being made for increasing the amount of the fund being provided under the scheme to Rs 4 per meal per day for children in the primary level and to Rs 5.50 per meal per day for children in upper primary level from next year.

In addition to this, another proposal has been submitted to the Govt of India for hiking the transportation charge of lifting rice and other food items for Mid-Day Meal as the transporters are not finding it difficult to manage with the existing transportation charge, the source disclosed.

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