Monitoring committee to look into quality of food

New Delhi: Centre on Thursday decided to constitute a monitoring committee to look into the quality of food supplied under the scheme. The Centre has also issued alerts to 12 Bihar districts after shortcomings were found in implementation of the scheme.

Asked if any warnings were issued to Bihar by the committee earlier this year after some shortcomings in the implementation of the programme were identified, HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju replied in the affirmative.

The committee is expected to supplement the efforts of the existing mid-day meal monitoring committee which meets twice a year and warns the states if there are any shortcomings.

“We have decided to form a committee which will look into the qualitative aspect of implementation of the programme, the quality of the food that is supplied, the effectiveness of the supply chain and the hygiene of the place where it is cooked,” he said.

Officials said the composition of the committee is being worked out. The vigilance and monitoring committees constituted in every districts with MPs as members should also ensure that the quality aspect is looked into, he added.

Raju, who on Wednesday feared that contamination of food could be one of the reasons for the death, said they areawaiting the forensic report and responsibility will be fixed.