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Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla

Districts Monitored : THREE1. Kullu2. Lahaul Spiti3. Solan

Period of the Report of MDMS:

1st April 2011 to 30th September 2011

Month of Visit to Districts/Schools:

June 2011- September 2011

No. of Elementary Schools Monitored :

12040 schools in each district

Regularity in Serving Meals

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Hot cooked meal prepared in the school kitchen by the cooks and helpers is served in all the schools

Sl. No

Details Day Previous to Date of Visit

On the Day of visit

Kullu L & S

Solan

Kullu L & S

Solan

1 Enrolment 2751 515 5239 2751 515 5239

2 Number of Students attending school

2517 457 4817 2503 456 4654

3 Number of Children availing MDM as per MDM register

2517 457 4817 2503 456 4654

4 Number of children actually availing MDM

2517 457 4817 2413 419 4654

3.60 and 3.90 percent of the students in Kullu and L & S Districts were not availing MDM on the day of visit as they have brought Tiffins from their own homes due to their illness.

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Regularity in delivering food grains

100 percent of the schools in Kullu and Solan are receiving food grains regularly from fair price shops of civil supply Department of H. P. Government. In case of L & S District, 80 percent of schools receive food grains for one year in advance from BE Office whereas 20 percent receive from local market against cash payment.

Buffer stock of one month was maintained in all schools of Kullu and L & S Districts whereas in Solan it was only 92 percent of schools. In 8 percent of schools it was

maintained for 8-10 days only.

In all the schools, the quantity of food grains supplied was as per marked/indicated weight.

In all the schools of the three Districts, the food grains were not delivered at the schools. They were collected from Civil supply depot or Local market by the teachers themselves.

The quantity of food grains was good in all the schools.

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Regularity in delivering food grains

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27.5, 80 and 10 percent of the schools in Kullu, L & S and Solan Districts were receiving cooking cost well in time and in rest of schools late by 3-4 months.

To manage no disruption in feeding programmes the schools borrow from the local market.

Cooking cost is paid both by cash or banking channel.

Regularity in delivering cooking cost

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Social Equity

All the children irrespective of gender, caste or community take meals together in the verandas /school court yards of the schools and no isolation of SC, ST and OBC was observed during the serving of MDM.

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Variety of Menu

Almost all the schools had displayed weekly menu which has been decided by the authorities of the School.

For all the six working days of the school different menu is followed.

Only rice with different pulses, curry, pulao, sweet rice, kheer and halwa are served. Chapaties with dry vegetables/pulses, fruits and salad etc. are not served in any of the schools.

The quality of the meal is quite satisfactory and quantity of food is also adequate.

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Health Components

The health cards had been maintained in Solan District only and not in Kullu and L & S Districts.

The frequency of the health check-up of the students is very low in all the Districts visited.

The distribution of the micronutrients except iron tablets and de-worming medicines is also very low in all the districts.

The health workers of nearest health centers to the school administer the medicines and the frequency of this is very low.

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Status of Cooks

Adequate no. of cooks and helpers as per the norms of GOI have been appointed by the school managements and VECs.

The social composition of the cooks/helpers is as per the strength of different categories of people in the catchment area of the school.

The cooks and helpers are paid remuneration of Rs. 1000/- each per month.

The remuneration is paid through cash but 2-3 months late in all the schools of the Districts visited except Lahaul Block, where it is paid in advance.

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Infrastructure

75 and 100 percent of the schools of Kullu and Solan Districts have their own Kitchens which are in use. In case of L & S, only 17.5 percent schools have their own kitchens.

In case of non-availability of Kitchen in schools, one of the classrooms is used for preparing MDM and storing food grains.

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Potable Water

Potable water is provided to all the schools from IPH water supply scheme, however, in 3 schools of District Kullu it was not available as the water supply was totally washed away by the floods. The water is manually brought to these schools through head-load from a distance of about 300-400 mts.

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Utensils

Adequate cooking Utensils are available in all the schools. However, in some of the schools i.e. 57.5 and 27.5 percent in Kullu and L & S Districts, children carry their own plates from their homes for taking MDM.

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Fuel Used

LPG is available in all the schools and is used for cooking the meals. Firewood is also used in case of non availability of LPG.

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Safety and Hygiene

Clean environment in Kitchens, safe cooking process and storage of fuel exist in all the schools.

The students wash their hands before and after meals, rinse their plates before meals, clean, rinse and dry them properly after meals without any wastage of water. This is all monitored by the teachers.

In all the schools the students take meal in an orderly manner in the serving areas i.e. verandas or courtyards after reciting a prayer.

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Community Participation and Awareness

The community members are aware about MDM but their participation in MDM activities is very low. They visit schools occasionally to monitor and supervise MDM.

Only a few parents were aware about the quantity and types of micronutrients in the MDM.

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Inspection and Supervision

The inspection of MDM at state level is very low, whereas, it is a little bit better at District level and Satisfactory at Block level.

MDM has improved the attendance and general well being of the students. There is no significant impact on enrolment as there is already 100 percent enrolment in the schools.

Insufficient allocation of Budget per head in the light of escalation of prices of the edibles is creating problems in the successful implementation of the scheme. It should be increased.

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Presentation by: Nodal Officer: Dr. Romesh Chand, Director, Department of Adult/ Continuing Education and

Extension, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla – 171005, Himachal Pradesh

Mobile No: 9418118550Email ID : drromeshchand_hpu@rediffmail.com

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Thank You Very Much