A pilot project that will see an NGO supply midday meals to around 40,000 Delhi government school students will be implemented soon, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told the Assembly on Wednesday.
Speaking after a discussion on the quality of midday meals being served to students, Mr. Sisodia said that the Akshaya Patra Foundation would cook meals for 40,000 students.
In a rare bi-partisan moment, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP agreed on the plan. Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta nodded when Mr. Sisodia said that the NGO was known for cooking quality midday meals in other States.
Once rejected
“We had sent the proposal by Akshaya Patra to the previous Lieutenant-Governor [Najeeb Jung]. They had asked for land to set up their kitchen as they didn’t have one in Delhi,” said Mr. Sisodia, adding that Mr. Jung had rejected it.
The Deputy CM said that the file was moved again when Anil Baijal took over as L-G, who agreed to a pilot project. Mr. Sisodia said that another project, which would provide midday meals to 1.5 lakh students, will require land and a proposal was in the works.
Referring to complaints by MLAs about the quality of midday meals, Mr. Sisodia said that the next contract would include provisions for penalties on those who did not adhere to food and health standards.
Earlier in the discussion, Kondli MLA Manoj Kumar said that the kitchen of one of the midday meal suppliers was located near a slaughterhouse and a garbage dump.
In February, students of a government school fell ill after they were served meals with a dead rat in it. Mr. Sisodia said that swift action was taken against the agency responsible.