Delhi: Civic bodies to ensure quality mid-day meals

The municipal corporations of Delhi are getting stricter with the mid-day meal mechanism to prevent Bihar-like incidents. Ritam Halder reports.

The municipal corporations of Delhi are getting stricter with the mid-day meal mechanism to prevent Bihar-like incidents.

While the south corporation will issue a strict 27-point guideline on these meals, leaders from the north body will meet the three NGOs in charge of the kitchens that supply food to their schools. The NGOs, a north leader said, will be told to take all necessary precautions.

In the south district, three NGOs — Ekta Shakti Foundation, Iskon Food Relief Foundation and Jay Gee Humanitarian Society — are in charge of cooking mid-day meals. The guidelines will reach these NGOs soon, a senior official in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) told Hindustan Times. “Minor carelessness can result in a major disaster,” he said.

“The NGO staff, while cooking and serving food, will have to wear uniform, gloves, cap and masks. They will have to install CCTV cameras in the kitchens to ensure better monitoring. The food must be tasted before being served,” he added. Also, stress will be laid on cleanliness and monitoring of food items.

Standing committee chairman of the north body, Ram Kishan Singhal, along with Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Goel and other corporators will meet representatives of the three NGOs — Maitree Research & Development Foundation, Surya Charitable & Welfare Society and Stri Shakti — that provide mid-day meals to north corporation’s schools.

“We will discuss with them all necessary precautions and action that need to be taken,” leader of the House Mahender Nagpal said.