Total Man Power | Transportation | Kitchen Devices |System for Cooking | Record of Cooking

MDM Section, HRDD, Gangtok looks after the smooth functioning of Mid – Day Meal Scheme being implemented at the various Government Schools of the four districts of Sikkim.

Mid – Day Meal Scheme was launched in Sikkim on 15th August 1995 and till 2001 raw rice was distributed to children upto class V @ 3kg. / child / month.Cooked mid-day meal was implemented in Sikkim from October 2002 as per the Supreme Court’s order dated 28.11.2001.

Coocked meal should contain 450 calories and 12 gms. Of protein. Khichdi is served most of the days. Kheer is given at least twice a month. Some – times rice with curry and dal, eggs are also served.

Food grains are supplied by the Food Corporation of India (FIC), The District Collector being nodal officer of the Scheme authorizes an officer of HRD. Deptt. From the District to lift food grains from the FCI godown. Food grains are transported to Principal Distribution Centre (PDC) or Godown maintained by the Human Resources Development Department (HRDD) in the District, after they are lifted from FCI Godown. FCI maintains two distributions centres in Sikkim, namely Rangpo and Jorethang. Rangpo Centres cates to East and North districts Wheares Jorethang caters to South and West districts. The food grains then get distributed to each of the school.

Food grains free of cost is supplied by the Centre through the FCI @100gms / child / day to Pry & 150 gms / child / day to upper Pry. The main food grains distribution centres for South and west districts is Jorethang. The foodgrains distribution centres for North and East Districts is Rangpo. The HRD Departments of North, South and West Districts lift the foodgrains (rice) from the distribution centres and supply to different Schools. District are facing problem of Godown rent as well as pending bills of transportation charges for the period from July, 2007 to Sept.2007.

Grant – in – Aid of Rs.12.67 lakhs sanction during 2007-08 to the State for transportation of food grains for primary stage w.e.f.1.10.2007 to 31.3.2008.The bills incurred upon carriage of food grains under MDM Scheme submitted by the districts are sent to the MDM Senction, HRDD, along with the Challans for the payment after through scrutiny by the Account section of the Deptt. Payments are made from the Grant – in – Aid provided by the GOI. (The transport cost has been enhanced from Rs.100/ - per quintal w.e.f. October 2007.

Bills incurred upon cooking of mid-day meal are submitted by the districts to the Headquarter, HRDD for payment. The Central government sanctions the fund for reimbursement of cooking cost to schools @ Rs.1.89/child/school day for Pry. Level & Rs.2.40 for Upper Pry. Level. Total cost per child per day is Rs.3.05 for both Primary and Upper Primary.

Funds for Management, Monitoring & Evaluation is derived from 2% (of cost of food grains + cooking cost), of which 0.2% is utilized by the Centre and 1.80 % is released to the State. Rs.8.00 lakhs has been sanctioned for 2007 – 08 under MME of which Rs.5.39 lakh has been utilized.

Rs. 22.32 lakhs was sanction during FY – 2006 – 07 for the procurement of kitchen devices out of which Rs.21.18 lakhs has already been released to the STCS for the procurement of kitchen devices [Gas Bhattis & Cylinders] to 447 govt. schools of Sikkim.

Rs. 16.80 lakhs sanction during March, 2008 by the GOI for the procurement of kitchen devices under MDM schemes and a proposal is under process to utilize this amount for providing untensils to upper pry. Schools.

Rs. 217.86 lakhs sanction as 1st installment for primary stage.
Rs. 138.58 lakh sanction as 1st installment for upper primary stage.
There is a separate budget provision provided by the State Government for cooking of Mid – Day – Meal which is termed as conversion cost @Rs.1.25 / child / day as already mentioned.

Food grains (Rice) is received free of cost from the central Government @100 grams / child / school day & 150gms / child / school day to the students of Upper Pry. Level.

The Calorific Value of Mid-Day-Meal served was 300 calories per 100 gms of Received and 8-12 gms of Protein. But this this value has been revised w.e.f. July 2006. Now the enhanced calorie value is equivalent to 450 gms of rice and Protein value equivalent to 10-12 gms as per the Guidelines.

The School Managing Committee (SMS) engages a cook (local person for cooking mid-day meal. Cooking and serving is supervised by the faculty members & SMC of School. The same is also donne by mothers and public also.

K. SYSTEM TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND OPPENNES IN ALL ASPECTS OF PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION, INNER ALIA, FOOD GRAIN, INGREDIENTS MANAGEMENT, PROCUREMENT, COOKING AND SERVING, APPOINTMENT OF COOKING STAFF, CONSTRUCTION OF KITCHEN SHEDS, PROCUREMENT OF COOKING DEVICES HAS BEEN DEVISED AS PER THE GUIDELINES. DISTRICT COLLECTORS OF THE DISTRICT CONCERNED ARE NODAL OFFICER OF THIS SCHEME.

• ISSUE OF FOODGRAINS.
Food grains are issued as per the quota allotted to the concerned district authority. The quantity is ensured by weighing for which weighing machine have been provided.

As per the guidelines of NP & NSPE, 2006 all the students are being served khichidi. But in case of Sikkim most of the school served vegetables & dal and cooked rice separately. Quality of cooked meal is checked by the school authority. Teachers some times the member of PRIs, SMC or a guardian may taste the meal and ensure its hygiene and quality. They may also check whether or not vegetable and other ingredients are added to the meal. Eggs and fruits are also provided at times.

A Register is maintained on cooking cost in schools. The SMC or any officals may check accounts of cooking cost and food grain with this register. The expenditure on cooking cost is maintained within Rs. 3.05 / child / day.

Implementation of cooked mid-day-meal is being run satisfactory in the state of Sikkim. Its chief aim is to enhanced enrollment in schools which is mostly fulfilled. There are very few children out of school in village. Absenteeism of
children has also gone down as a result of this programme and attendance record 95% in all schools of Sikkim. Children are getting wholesome and hygienic food n school and drop put rates has gone down to less than 15% in Primary level.