PANAJI
In a bid to check the quality and nutritional content of the mid-day meal supplied to over 1.61 lakh students, the Central government has directed Goa to carry out the testing of all food samples through laboratories accredited with The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and to submit the report.
During the meeting of the Programme Approval Board (PAB) - Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) held to consider the Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) for the FY 2024-25, the State was advised to ensure provision of hot cooked meal on all school working days and the same is served in a hygienic and safe manner to all eligible students.
“PAB advised the State Government to carry out the testing of the samples of meals to check quality and nutritional contents etc through NABL / FSSAI accredited laboratories across the State as envisaged in the PM POSHAN Scheme guidelines and the reports may also be shared. Expenditure on testing of meals may be met from MME – Management, Monitoring and Evaluation component,” reads the minutes of the meeting.
The Central officials also advised the State Government to adhere to the extant guidelines for engaging Civil Society Organizations / NGOs in the scheme for supply of meal.
Secretary (SE&L) cum Chairman of PAB advised the State to ensure that the menu is devised in such a manner that a variety food items may be prepared to increase the interest of students in the school meals.
State Government informed that in 1,216 schools out of total 1,231 schools, hot cooked meals are being served through kitchens of Women Self Help Groups, while in the remaining 15 schools, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) supply meals and kitchen-cum-stores in these schools have been constructed by the government.
State further informed that the Women Self-help groups are providing cooked meal to about 1.58 lakh students in 1216 schools in both the districts through 97 small centralized kitchens.
The PAB appreciated the State government’s concept of adopting Tithi Bhojan, under which, members from the general public provide nutrition packed meal or fruits to students on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries or festivals etc. State informed that 24,363 full meals were served in 664 schools during 2023-24.
It also appreciated the State's move to provide millet based Chikki & Ladoos to all students.
The PM POSHAN guidelines envisage that 100 gm foodgrains, 20 gm pulses, 50 gm vegetables and 5 gm oil to be used for per meal per student in primary and 150 gm foodgrains, 30 gm pulses, 75 gm vegetables and 7.5 gm oils to be used per student per meal in upper primary.
