Confusion hinders milk supply to schools

Scores of schoolchildren in the State have not got their share of free milk under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme as the government has not yet addressed the concerns of not-for-profit organisations which have been assigned the job.

While the government gave the NGOs two weeks to equip themselves with necessary infrastructure for implementation of the project, the organisations have complained that the costs were “too high”. Many of these NGOs are also involved in midday meal programme.

Besides, the NGOs complained about a few logistic problems in the current plan for the implementation of the programme. Although the government promised a quick decision, nothing has been announced so far.

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) distributed about 1,350 metric tonnes of milk powder across the State till now, according to its Additional Director Suresh Kulkarni. The powder, however, has not been supplied to several schools in Hubli-Dharwad and Bellary besides Bangalore where the scheme is to be implemented by the NGOs.  Kulkarni said the product was “ready”. “We can immediately supply milk powder to the remaining schools as soon as the government asks us to do so,” he added.

Vedavyasa Bhat of Adamya Chethana, one of the NGOs involved with the midday meal programme, said the organisation was waiting for the government’s decision. “They told us it would take another week. We hope to hear from them soon,” he said. Meanwhile, the KMF is preparing to deliver the second batch of milk powder to schools across the State as part of the Ksheera Bhagya programme.