Indian Institute of Education, Pune.

U.T. of Dadra & Nagar Haveli

Mid-Day-Meal

The M.I visited 39 schools and 1 KGBV in 1st half of 2010-11. Date of visit to the district- 10th March to 21st March 2011

Regularity in Serving Meal All schools were serving hot cooked meal daily except for

the interruption period noticed in 9 schools.

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Trends The M.I. found that all children enrolled in the schools have been

opted for Mid-Day- Meal and there was no variation between the number of children availing the MDM as per MDM registers and the number of children actually availing MDM on the day of visit.

Regularity in delivering food grains In 9 schools (23.07%) food grains were received irregularly. There

are 3 schools that have the extent of delay ranging from 10-15 days, 3 schools have 16-20 days, and 2 schools have 25-30 days and 1 school has 49 days delay.

Buffer stock of month was found in 27 schools (69.23%). The quantity of food grains being supplied was as per indicated

weight in all schools. Food grains (only rice) were delivered at the door in 37 schools

(94.87%). 2 schools in Amboli- Patelad have no road for transport. The quality of food grains was found to be good in all

schools.

Regularity in delivering cooking cost U.T. of D &N H is supplying 2 LPG cylinder to each school.

Edible oil, split pulses and condiments are also supplied to all schools.

The school has to purchase only vegetables. Vegetable bills were received with the gap of 2/3 months. It was found that the cooking cost of June- July 2010 was paid

in September 2010 and of August- September was paid in December 2010.

Though the bills were submitted in time due to administrative procedure it was delayed.

Social Equity No discrimination of any kind was observed in any of the

schools (visited) Most of the children, cooks and helpers were from S.T.

community. This could be the reason that we did not observe any discrimination.

In all schools the children either sit or stood in queue to take meal and then children used to sit in a row in school verandha.

Then they recited a prayer and took the meal.

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Variety of Menu In all schools (100%) a weekly menu was displayed at a place

noticeable to community. In some schools, we observed that the information about

quantity of food grains per child was also displayed. U.T. has given prescribed menu to all schools Variety in the food preparation as given in the prescribed menu

was found in all schools. The daily menu had included Rice, Dal, Bhaaji (Monday),

Khichadi-Bhaaji (Tuesday), Rice, Dal, Bhaaji (Wednesday), Khichadi and Bhaaji (Thursday), Rice, Dal, Bhaaji (Friday) and Khichadi and Bhaaji (Saturday).

Seasonal green vegetables were also used in Mid-Day-Meal.

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Quality & Quantity of Meal In all schools (100%) quality of Meal was found to be good. In all schools (100%) quantity of Meal was found to be more

than enough for all children. All children were happy. It was noticed that U.T. had stopped the good practice of

giving banana as supplementary food thrice in a week which they followed earlier.

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Supplementary All schools had maintained a Health Card for each child. The Medical and Public Health Department of District Panchayats

Shri Vinoba Bhave Civil Hospital, Silvassa had given Health identity card for each child, and the Department had fully computerized the data of each child.

Health identity card for each child was an unique thing that can be adopted everywhere.

The annual health check up was found to be conducted in all schools. Micronutrients and deworming medicine were given to the needy

children.

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Status of Cooks It is an unique example that U.T. had appointed 1 cook, 1

helper and 1 waterman on daily wages in each school for MDM and most of them (94.44%) were S.T. females.

The norms laid down by the Govt of India were yet not being implemented by U.T.

But in all schools at present 3 persons were engaged for this purpose. All schools (100%) reported that they had adequate cooks and helper to meet their requirement.

The payment given to the cooks and helpers was found to be delayed by 15-20 days in every month.

Infrastructure

Out of 39 schools, a separate pucca kitchen shed was constructed and in use in 5 schools (12.82%) and these were constructed by the D.P.

Large no. of schools lacked storage place for food items. We had observed that food grains were stored in classroom in

24 schools (61.54%), Headmaster’s office in 3 schools, vacant teacher’s quarter in 3 schools.

At present in 7 schools (17.95%) the food was cooked in school verandah, unutilized spare classroom in 19 schools (48.72%), vacant teachers quarters in 7 schools (17.95%), under stairway in 3 schools

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Fuel

Every school in U.T. of Dadra and Nagar Haveli had been given two LPG cylinder with connection and we think it is praiseworthy.

All schools had potable water for cooking and drinking. All schools had adequate utensils for cooking. U.T. has provided plates to all children which is an exmplery.

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Safety & Hygiene In most of the schools general impression about the

environment and hygiene was good. Safety measures needs to be taken care of in most of the

schools. In all schools the children were encouraged to wash their hands

before and after eating. The children were taking meals in desciplined manner.

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Community participation and awareness In 22 schools ( 56.41%) the VEC/PTA/MTA was supervised and

monitored the MDM. Roster was being maintained by the community members in 26

schools (66.67%). The overall participation or contribution made by Parents VECs to

improve the quality of the meal was found poor in all schools. Very few parents/ community members found to be aware about the

quantity of MDM per child at primary and upper primary level. They were also not fully aware about the entitlement of quantity

and type of nutrients in MDM per child. The source of awareness of parents and community members

regarding MDM was mostly children, teachers and news papers.

Inspection & Supervision The Mid-day Meal programme was inspected regularly either

by the teachers or headmasters. In all schools MDM was inspected by the cluster level

officials. In 12 schools it was inspected by the A.E.O. District level officials also inspected the MDM programme in

17 schools

Impact The Mid-Day-Meal programme has helped to improve the

attendance. The MI during its interaction with children, teachers and

parents found that there is improvement in health of children.

But at the school no bench mark record of weight, height of each child was noticed.

Thanks …