State to ensure quality of midday meals

The deaths of more than 20 children in Bihar who perished after consuming contaminated midday meal at their school, have prompted the Karnataka government to take necessary precautions to prevent similar tragedies in the State.

The government has started to monitor meals served under the midday meal scheme and also in anganwadis. The Department of Women and Child has been instructed to conduct tests on food being served at anganwadis across the State.

“We have started collecting samples from the Mahila Supplementary Nutrition Production and Training Centres, which supply food to the anganwadis and are sending these to the labs,” said an official from the Department.

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) which is responsible for the mid-day meal scheme in the State has planned to issue instructions to all schools. “We will be issuing government orders to schools, including a list of precautions to be taken,” said Jayakumar S, Joint Director (midday meal scheme), DPI.

The department plans to meet teachers and cooks to discuss hygiene in the cooking area. and cleanliness.