Govt to outsource MDM scheme; to start with Jammu, Samba districts: Priya Sethi

‘Move aimed at to relieve teachers of additional work’

     Jammu, September 07: Minister of State for Education, Priya Sethi today said that the government is mulling to out sources Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme to relieve Teachers from the additional work and enable them to pay full attention on Teaching Learning Processes (TLP) and holistic development of the students.        

She was speaking at a joint meeting of education department functionaries and representatives of Akshay Patra an NGO serving Mid Day Meals to around 17 Lakh students in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states.  

 The Minister discussed pros and cons of outsourcing of the scheme and sought full details of the working style of the NGO.

            After detailed discussion, it was decided that initially the project shall be started on Pilot basis in   Jammu and   Samba districts of Jammu divisions.

        Meanwhile, the Minister and the team of NGO visited four locations each in Jammu and Samba districts to explore the possibility of establishing centralized kitchens.

It was informed that the establishment of centralized Kitchens would be in commensuration to the strength of the students in the twin districts where about 65,000 students shall be benefitted by the scheme.

It has also been decided that by assigning  the MDM to the NGO the staff (Cooks) already in placed shall not be disengaged and shall continue to work in the scheme as desired by the Minister of Education.

With the success of the Pilot Project the module shall be replicated in the remaining districts of Jammu Division and consequently followed by Kashmir Division.

The meeting was attended   by   Suvyakta Narasimha Dasa Sr. VP and Project Director, Bharatarshabha Dasa Director Strategic Relationships and representatives of School Education Department including Director School Education Jammu Ravinder Pal Singh, State Project Director RMSA Tufail Matto, Deputy Director Planning Deepa Sharma, Chief Education Officer Jammu, Joginder Kumar Sudan and Chief Education Officer Samba   Ram Pal.

        Priya Sethi hoped that the collaboration with World's largest NGO to run Mid Day Meal programme for serving wholesome school lunch will accomplish the aim of increasing enrolment in Govt schools, increasing school attendance, minimize dropout rate, improve performance of both students and teachers in class.