A high-level meeting of all the concerned departments was today convened by Advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai to devise a better strategy for the nutrition of children under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Mid Day Meals (MDM) scheme.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary SocialWelfare, Rohit Kansal, Commissioner Secretary School Education, Sarita Chauhan,Secretary Rural Development Sheetal Nanda, Director School Education Kashmir,Mohammad Younis Malik, Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta besidesother officers of these departments.
It was given in the meeting that Panchayat level committeescomprising Panchayat representatives, teachers and parents would arrange thenutritional items to the children. It was discussed that the the process wouldbe highly decentralised so that the arrangements could be made locally as perthe specific needs of respective areas.
The meeting also decided that bank accounts at Panchayatlevel would be opened with the approval of Finance department to directlytransfer funds to them. This would ensure prompt and smooth supply of theseitems to the schools for distribution among the children.
Ganai stressed upon the officials that children should bethe main beneficiary of these schemes. He advised them to devise strategytaking into consideration the welfare of the end beneficiaries. Theparticipating officials were also instructed to complete the exercise in atime-bound manner.