Minister for Education R. Kamalakannan said the government has done a thorough evaluation of the Akshaya Patra before entering into a memorandum of understanding with the organisation to provide noon meals in schools.
Replying to the concerns expressed by A. Anbalagan (AIADMK) on handing over the mid-day meal programme to a non-governmental organisation, the Minister said he, along with officials, had inspected the noon meal programme being carried out by the organisation in Karnataka.
Better organised
The menu, preparation and transportation of the food was far better than what was being done by the Education Department. The food supplied to the students was also more nutritious, he added.
The organisation would modernise the existing central kitchen at Kalapet. They would spend around ₹13 crore to develop the kitchen.
Welfare of staff
The organisation would provide salary to 150 employees working at the kitchen.
The government had taken steps to guarantee the rights of employees, the Minister said.
The Education Department would continue to provide eggs to the children, he added.
The Minister promised to take a delegation of MLAs to States where the organisation was involved in providing noon meal.