The school education department has started distribution of cooked Mid-Day Meals (MDM) to students at their homes after schools across J&K were closed earlier this week.
The directions for distribution of the meals were given byprincipal secretary school education, Asgar Samoon while chairing a videoconference with all chief education officers (CEOs) and other officials of thedepartment.
The zonal education officers (ZEOs) have been directed toensure implementation of the directions on the ground.
“All ZEOs are strictly put under instructions that in viewof the apex court directions and as a directed by principal secretary in videoconference, all schools shall cook and deliver the MDM to the enrolled studentsat their doorsteps without fail,” reads a message sent by the CEO Anantnag toall ZEOs.
“The HOIs and MDM in-charge shall be made personallyresponsible on this account. Sarpanchas, Panchas should also be involved in thedistribution of the MDM,” it reads.
The CEO confirmed to Greater Kashmir that the MDM was beingdistributed among the students at their homes. The message was circulated toall the ZEOs of other districts as well.
However some officials have questioned the government move.”It is not a wise decision to distribute the meals amid the prevailingsituation. It will result in public gathering and could make people vulnerableto infections,” an official said.
As per the guidelines of Union Ministry of Human ResourceDevelopment (MHRD), the MDM is served among students on working days. But theapex court has asked the states to file the compliance report about utilizationof the MDM during the closure of schools.
“In this regard, the MHRD is planning to devise a mechanismfor utilization of the meals. But the department has hastily decided to go forserving the meals at the door steps,” said an official.
He said the officials had put forth suggestions forutilization of the MDM among students and avoiding door-to-door distribution whichinvites public gathering.
“But the principal secretary didn’t agree and instructed toensure the distribution of the meals,” the official said.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, KK Sharma said thedepartment has not taken any final decision regarding the distribution ofmeals. He said directions have been passed that no CEO should distribute MDMamong students as their doorsteps.
“We are still holding discussions over it. The finaldecision will be taken later,” Sharma said.