MID DAY MEAL
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sensex is waving up and down, touching the untouched heights; Economists are showing progress in GDP and Nation economy. But for an average man or people BPL (below poverty line), these terms do not have much significance. For them the important is, meals thrice a day, children getting education in reputed schools, clothes to wear and they dream of a better life for their children. However no matter how much Nation’s economy raise still, unfortunately, the people below poverty line and middle class never grows. As said the future of any country is seen in its children. The latest Human Development report says that 47% children are underweight. Over 34% of population live on less than 40 Rs a day. In this condition for the children mid day meal (MDM) is necessity and could prove fruitful for healthier children. But unfortunately either because of political reasons or physical reasons MDM has always some loopholes. Many a times the plan had been changed from providing the full lunch to packed lunch to enhance and monitor the quality. But still people prefer to have hot meal than packed things. So few people come with the magic remedy for preventing the corruption to enter in MDM. The School which were providing the mid day meal made a parent group which would monitor the quality of food. With whatever funds come are spent under supervision of the parents group. The child is even asked to bring his own plate from the home, washes it after the lunch, takes it away and brings it next day. In this way all the children are getting proper nutritious food, just in 5 Rs per child. This ensures the cleanliness and hygiene.
The involvement of the mothers in MDM has had many positive spins offs. Their presence in the school premises and constant and regular monitoring by the state authorities ensure that teachers don’t absent themselves from duty and regular classes are run.
Not only this the INDUS programme run by the Govt for the elimination of the child labour has found that involvement of mothers in MDM has brought the children more faster to the schools. In some areas the NGO’s have joined the Govt hands in running special schools for rehabilitating these children and helps them to include in mainstreaming. The mothers involved in the MDM are additionally given the stipend monthly that supports the family also. Most important is that different religion, caste and culture children sit and eat together breaking all-cultural and caste barrier.
Dr Neeti Sharma
Resources : News Papers articles
Posted byNeeti at 12:13 PM
Labels: knowledge sharing