1 Minutes of the meeting of State Level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (SLSMC) for
Mid Day Meal
held on 25.10.12 under the Chairpersonship
of
worthy Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.
A meeting of the
State Level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (SL-SMC) for Mid Day Meal
Scheme , was held under the Chairmanship
of
Sh. Sudripta Roy , Chief Secretary to the
Government of Himachal Pradesh on 25.10.12 in the Chief Secretary committee room , HP
Secretariat, Shimla-2.
Following members were present in the meeting :-
1. Sh. Prem Kumar Additional Chief Secretary (FCS&TD ) , to the Govt. of H.P. Shimla- 2
2. Shri V.C. Pharka Principal Secretary ( SJ & E ), to the Govt. of H.P, Shimla-2.
3.
Shri S.K.B.S. Negi, Principal Secretary (RD/PR) to the Govt. Of H.P. Shimla -2
4. Sh. K. Sanjay Murthy Secretary, ( Education) to the Govt. of H.P ,Shimla-2
5. Sh. B. M. Nanta Managing Director H.P. HP State Civil Supplies Corporation.
6
Sh. Priyatu Mandal Special Secretary (Finance) to the Government of H.P. Shimla -2
7
Sh. Gayaprasad , Director (MDM) MHRD Government of India New Delhi
8
Sh. Rajeev Sharma , Director Elementary Education HP
9
Shri Hardev Singh Addl. Secretary ( Health ) to the Govt. of H.P ,Shimla-2.
10 Shri Pradeep Chauhan Adviser Economic Department of Economic and Statistic H.P.
11 Shri K.K. Sharma Consultant National Support Group (MDM ) Delhi
12 Dr. Romesh Chand Nodal Officer (MDM) Monitoring Institution, Himachal Pradesh
University Shimla
13 Shri R.G.Patial Procurement Manager , HP State Civil Supplies Corporation .
14 Shri Vijay Sofra, Assistant Controller (F&A)Directorate of Ele. Edu. HP, Shimla-1
15 Smt Sudha Sharda G-II, MDM cell, Directorate of Ele. Edu. HP, Shimla
16 Shri Kailash Thakur, Sr.Assistant, MDM cell Directorate of Ele. Edu. HP, Shimla
At the outset the Secretary (Education) welcomed the Chairman and the
participants. Thereafter, a detailed presentation was made
on
agenda by the
Director Elementary Education HP and agenda was discussed at length.
Government of India ,
Monitoring
institution (HPU),
External Evaluator
(Department of Economics and Statistics) also made their presentations .
2 The
1
Latest status of implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme:
Director (EE) apprised the members on the implementation of MDM Scheme
in the State . It was informed that :
™ The scheme is being implementation in all the 15064 Primary and Upper
Primary schools benefitting 661419 students .
™ Department has made policy / guidelines for engagement of cook-cum-helper
under MDM Scheme. It has been made mandatory to get the medical check-up
of cook-cum-helper from medical authorities before first appointment and once
in a year.
™ Department has imparted training to 10445 cook-cum-helper regarding
maintenance of cleanliness , hygiene , proper cooking
procedures for
maintenance of nutritive value .
™ The committee was also informed regarding progress of construction of kitchen
shed. Out of 14959 number of kitchen-sheds sanctioned by GOI, the
construction of 11956 kitchen-sheds have been completed .
™ Department established the Grievance Redressal Mechanism under this
Scheme.
The
nodal
officers
have
been
nominated
at
State/District/Block/School level .
™ The toll free number 1800-180-8007 has
also been
installed
in the
Directorate w.e.f.5.6.2012. The complaints are being attended on evey working
day during 10.30 am to 3.00 pm.
™ Apart from departmental officers the scheme is also being inspected /
monitored by the SDMs/Tehsildars/C.D.P.O, T.W.O, Representative of Local
Self Government agencies.
2
Proposal for publicity :
The committee was informed that department intends to give publicity of the
scheme through DOORDARSHAN. The stakeholders will be made aware regarding
entitlement of students under this scheme and also grievance redressal mechanism
for better implementation of the scheme.
The Committee approve the proposal .
3 3
Issue of Enhancement date of cooking cost :
The committee was informed that department submitted the Annual Plan &
Budget for the year 2012-13 to Government of India by enhancing the cooking cost
7.5 % over the cooking cost of 2011-12 , as per guidelines / instructions issued the
Government of India vide letter dated 12.12.11 and approval of same was conveyed
by PAB (MDM) GOI .Accordingly , State Government notified the enhanced cooking
cost w.e.f. 1.4.12 .The Government of India
23rd
August
2012
has
informed
that
vide letter dated 15th June 2012 and
enhanced
rates
will
be
applicable
w.e.f.1.7.12.Due to revision of cooking cost w.e.f. 1.7.12 , the State has to bear the
additional burden of Rs. 128.11 lacs.
The Chairman directed that issue may be taken up with the GOI for revision of
date of enhancement w.e.f.1.4.12.
4
Issue of hike in LPG price :
The committee was informed that due to revision of LPG policy by GOI –
the educational institution under MDM Scheme now have to purchase the refills at
commercial rates. Due to hike in the LPG refills prices , the cooking cost is required to
be enhanced by Rs. 0.74 per child per day .Estimated additional liability on account of
enhancement of cooking cost
comes to Rs. 620/- lacs approximately . State has
already submitted the proposal to the GOI. The enhanced rates of LPG are presently
being met out of existing cooking cost .
The Chairman desired that Government of India may be requested to accord
the approval at the earliest. The chairman also suggested that induction cooking
plates (stoves) may be introduced in some schools on pilot project basis and cost
benefit analysis be conducted for electricity based cooking .
5
Reports of Monitoring Institution(MI) :
The monitoring institution , HP University , made presentation and same
was discussed at length. Monitoring Institution has informed that :
™ The stakeholders / parents/ students are not being involved in deciding the
menu. The menu is mostly decided by the in-charge (MDM) . The sweet rice
(meetha chawal ) is being served once a week and most of the students do not
4 like the recipe.
™ Some schools are receiving funds after two-three months.
™ Two instances of caste discrimination were noticed in few institution namely
GSSS/GPS Nichar and GPS Haripurkhol in
Kinnuar and Sirmour district
respectively.
™ Health check-up of students under School Health programme is being done
once a half year. Health cards are not being maintained in the schools.
™ Supervision / inspection of schools are not being carried out regularly by
higher authorities .
™ Overall quality of rice is good except in one school / institution in Sirmour
District.
6
Reports of External Evaluator :
Department has assigned the external evaluation of the scheme in respect of
six districts viz. Chamba , , Kullu , Mandi
,Sirmour , Kinnuar and L&S to
Department of Economic and Statistic HP. The external evaluator has submitted the
draft report to the department and also made presentation on the report.
a)
Perception of students :
™ Students are satisfied with the quality and quantity of food.
™ Safe drinking water facilities are available in the most of the schools.
™ Students / parents are not involved in the menu planning.
b)
Perception of Parents:
™ Most of parents have strong feeling
that MDM improved the children’s
nutritional status .
™ They were satisfied with the hygienic condition of food with respect to
cleanliness and dryness.
™ The socialization process has increased in the children.
™ The parents are monitoring and supervising
the preparation of MDM and
serving to children.
™ MDM has motivated the children to attend the school regularly and this
programme should be continued.
™ Majority of parents are not aware of entitlement of students regarding quality
5 and quantity of meal.
c)
Perception of Management Committee :
™ Cooked meal is being served.
™ Majority of schools (89%) are receiving the ration on monthly basis.
™ Seventy percent of schools have adequate storage facility.
™ Majority of students brings their own plates.
™ The attendance in the schools has increased with the implementation of MDM.
d)
Recommendation:
™ All the stakeholders i.e. parents / students/ community public /teachers
/SMCs members need to sensitize about the scheme.
™ Monitoring Mechanism and inspections need to be strengthened .
™ Funds should be provided in advance to the implementing agencies .
™ Accountability for maintenance of records at various levels should be prescribed
and monitored.
™ External agencies should be involved in supervision and monitoring .Elected
representative could be involved in supervision.
7
Report of Government of India :
Sh. Gayaprasad , Director (MDM) GOI made a presentation regarding
performance of State in implementation of MDM Scheme during 2009-10 to Ist quarter
of 2012-13.
™ Coverage of children / beneficiaries are 95 and 93 percent in primary and
upper primary stages respectively which is highest in the country .
™ State has utilized 85 % foodgrains and 96% of cooking cost in Ist quarter
against allocation.
™ State has utilized
Rs.5.16 lacs i.e. 28% of funds under honorarium
payable to cook-cum-helper in Ist quarter.
™ State has utilized only 4% of funds available under MME component and
has not utilized any funds under transportation .
™ State has only inspected 11% of schools / institution in the Ist quarter.
™ The meeting of SL-SMC is required to be held every quarter.
™ The logo of the MDM Scheme may be painted at prominent places on the
outside wall of the school and may also be given wide publicity .
6 8
Directions and Decisions :
After detailed deliberations following observations/ decisions were taken:
1. The monitoring of scheme may be carried out on regular basis. . The officers
going on tour should inspect all schools falling en-route .
2. The
stakeholders/ parents should be made aware of the scheme . The
department may
advertise the scheme through
DOORDARSHAN
for
awareness of general public / stakeholders. The department should also
publicize grievance redressal mechanism established under this scheme .
3. The Government of India may be requested to revise the cooking cost w.ef.
1.4.2012 instead of 1.7.2012 as State has already implemented the enhanced
cooking cost w.e.f.1.4.12 .
4. The enhance rates of LPG is presently being met out from the existing funds
made available under cooking cost. The GOI may be requested to give
concurrence on the proposal submitted by the department on hike of LPG
prices.
5. The electricity based induction cooking stoves (plates ) may be introduced in
a few schools on pilot basis and cost benefit analysis be carried out .
6. The funds to SMCs / implementing agencies may be provided in stipulated
time . The funds may be provided
through e-transfer as far as possible. The
cash transaction may be avoided .
7. The stakeholder / parents / students may be involved in the
menu.
The
recipe
deciding the
sweet rice (meeta chawal ) may be dropped / replaced
from menu as most of students do not like the same.
8. The emphasis may be given on social equity . Strict action be taken against
the Head of the Office where incidents of discrimination are being reported .
9. The FCI and HPSCSC may ensure that FAQ rice is supplied under this scheme.
They should ensure the proper checking
before issuing the rice under this
scheme.
10. The payment to FCI on account of cost of foodgrains (rice) may be released
regularly.
7 11. The stakeholders i.e. parents/ students / teachers / community people may be
sensitize regarding scheme so that scheme be monitored and implemented
efficiently .
12. The logo of the scheme may be painted on the outside wall of the school.
Banner of MDM logo and toll free number may also be exhibited at educational
Block HQ and District HQ .
13. Copy of reports of Monitoring Institutions including the extensive one
conducted by the Department of Economic and Statistics be sent to GOI.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to and from the chair.
Sd/Director
Elementary Education
Himachal
Pradesh
8