Schools closed but midday meals scheme to start

Nagpur: Even though school buildings are closed, the state government has decided that eligible students should not be deprived of midday meals (MDM) scheme. According to local officials, the guidelines on how to implement the scheme even though children are not in school are expected soon.
Gautam Gedam, MDM scheme in-charge for Nagpur district, said the state education department is working on a plan. “The state government has confirmed that MDM scheme will indeed start. We are now awaiting further instructions from state education director (primary) to implement it at the district level,” said Gedam.
Most probably the education department will advise that rice packets for entire month be distributed to parents. Similar thing was done during lockdown to ensure that the leftover foodgrains of March quota do not go waste. Gedam said, “We will have to wait and see what the director suggests. Whether it’s cooked food to be distributed or raw foodgrain packets.”
In Nagpur district, around 3 lakh students avail of the social benefit scheme. In some schools, the food is cooked by hired contractor, others get it through centralized kitchens run either by self-help groups (SHGs) or social charitable organizations.
Madhusudhan Mude, president of Headmasters Association (Nagpur district), said that MDM must indeed be taken forward. “We obviously need to see how the guidelines of health department are followed and children are safe. Maybe just the parents can be called to school to collect the food packets. Regardless, it will have to planned properly,” said Mude.
MDM scheme is vital for students from low income groups in both urban and rural areas. Children in tribal areas and even those belonging to daily wage migrants labourers depend solely on MDM for a nourishing meal.