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The Government on Thursday notified ‘Mid Day Meal Rules, 2015’ which now provide for monthly testing of meals on a random basis by accredited labs, temporary utilisation of other funds for meals, payment of food security allowance in case of non-supply of meals, among others.
This comes a day after the media reported that at least 90 children fell ill on Wednesday after allegedly consuming milk under mid-day meal programme at a primary school in Kheragarh town in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
“In accordance with the provisions of The National Food Security Act, 2013, the Ministry of HRD has finalised the MDM Rules after consultation with the States and other related Central Ministries. The rules will be known as Mid Day Meal Rules, 2015 and will be in effect from the date of notification in the Gazette of India,” an official statement said.
The rules provide for temporary utilisation of other funds available with the school for MDM in case the school exhausts MDM funds for any reason; food security allowance to be paid to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of meals for specified reasons; and monthly testing of meals on a random basis by accredited labs to check its quality, a statement from the Ministry of HRD said.
Moreover, the rules state that concerned State Governments shall fix responsibility on the person or agency if meals are not provided on three consecutive school days or five days in a month.
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