PUNE:
The unfolding midday meal tragedy in Bihar has stirred the civic body
into action. Self-help groups that provide midday meals to schools in
Pune municipal limits have been asked to show their Food and Drug Administration licence to cook the meals.
There are 160 self-help groups (SHGs) that provide food to around 92,000 students in over 600 schools in the city's municipal limits. On Wednesday, the civic body served show cause notices on the two major groups that act as coordinators of all the self-help groups of the midday meal scheme. "The PMC has served show cause notices on these coordinating self-help groups and given them eight days to give the status of the licences of these (160) SHGs. The exact number of the self-help groups, which don't have licences will be available after we get the replies from coordinating groups. The administration will take against the SHGs that do not have FDA licences," said Shivaji Daundkar, educational officer of PMC.
Daundkar said the administration carries out regular checks and routinely meets SHGs and that it was during one such meeting last week when the issue of FDA licences came up. He said the notices were issued on Wednesday after due process. "The SHGs have been asked to keep an extra vigil after the food poisoning problem in schools in Bihar. The notice will serve as a precautionary measure for schools in the backdrop of this incident," he said.
But Jayashree Dhoble, one of the coordinators of the groups served the show cause notice, said that SHGs not having licences is a technical issue. "Most of these groups had taken licences. Some of them don't have one currently because they have not renewed it. The process of renewal of the permit is on," she said.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, SHGs are required to register themselves and seek licences from the FDA, which carries out hygiene checks, material used for cooking and quality before giving its consent.
If FDA statistics are anything to go by, the number of licensed SHGs would possibly be minimal. In Pune district (including the civic limits), there are only 18 SHGs that are licenced to cook midday meals. Another 103 SHGs and 35 anganwadis are registered with the FDA. As per FDA rules, SHGs with a turnover less than Rs 12 lakh need to register with the body while those with a turnover above Rs 12 lakh per annum need to secure licences.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, said, "Every SHG employed in cooking midday meals for schools have to secure licences from the FDA or register themselves, whatever is applicable. However, we do not have the data on how many such SHGs are involved in cooking midday meals in the entire district."
Kekare said it was the responsibility of schools to ensure the SHG has the required licence to cook food, before employing them. Kekare said that surprise checks are carried out on SHGs that are licenced or registered with them, samples collected and tested for their quality.
It is not just the FDA that does not have a count of SHGs but also the zilla parishad. Sunil Kurhade, education officer, Pune Zilla Parishad, said there are no statistics on the number of SHGs employed in cooking the meal in the district, but maintained that the taluka level education officer randomly visits schools and collect samples of cooked food. "It is totally up to the school to either employ village women or SHGs to cook the meal. There is no restriction. They have to enter into an agreement with the SHGs or the women for cooking," he said, adding that as per government orders, the cooked food is first tasted by a teacher or the school principal before it is distributed. A food sample is set aside for 24 hours every day, to check if anything goes wrong, he said.
Experts and activists have often questioned the quality of food served to students. Last year, 78 students of municipal primary school number 5, located at Janata Vasahat in Parvati, had suffered from food poisoning after they ate stale food served under the midday meal scheme. Their condition stabilized after undergoing treatment at three private hospitals.
"The authorities concerned should take the issue of SHGs' registration (with the FDA) on priority. Chances of food adulteration and food poisoning are more during monsoon. So more precautions are needed while preparing the food for schools," said Vijay Kumbhar, founder of Surajya Sangharsha Samiti, a citizens' group.
Food File
There are 8,000 schools in Pune district and midday meals are provided to an estimated 8 lakh students
In the Pune civic limits, midday meal is provided to 92,000 students in 600-odd schools
Schools employ an SHG to cook the meal and in places where there are no SHGs, the school employs women from the village to cook the food
While there are 160 SHGs cooking midday meals for schools in the municipal limits, there is no count of SHGs cooking for schools that come under the zilla parishad
According to FDA stats, just about 18 SHGs in Pune district (including those in the civic limits and in the zilla parishad) are licenced
Another 103 SHGs and 35 anganwadis are registered with the FDA
There are 160 self-help groups (SHGs) that provide food to around 92,000 students in over 600 schools in the city's municipal limits. On Wednesday, the civic body served show cause notices on the two major groups that act as coordinators of all the self-help groups of the midday meal scheme. "The PMC has served show cause notices on these coordinating self-help groups and given them eight days to give the status of the licences of these (160) SHGs. The exact number of the self-help groups, which don't have licences will be available after we get the replies from coordinating groups. The administration will take against the SHGs that do not have FDA licences," said Shivaji Daundkar, educational officer of PMC.
Daundkar said the administration carries out regular checks and routinely meets SHGs and that it was during one such meeting last week when the issue of FDA licences came up. He said the notices were issued on Wednesday after due process. "The SHGs have been asked to keep an extra vigil after the food poisoning problem in schools in Bihar. The notice will serve as a precautionary measure for schools in the backdrop of this incident," he said.
But Jayashree Dhoble, one of the coordinators of the groups served the show cause notice, said that SHGs not having licences is a technical issue. "Most of these groups had taken licences. Some of them don't have one currently because they have not renewed it. The process of renewal of the permit is on," she said.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, SHGs are required to register themselves and seek licences from the FDA, which carries out hygiene checks, material used for cooking and quality before giving its consent.
If FDA statistics are anything to go by, the number of licensed SHGs would possibly be minimal. In Pune district (including the civic limits), there are only 18 SHGs that are licenced to cook midday meals. Another 103 SHGs and 35 anganwadis are registered with the FDA. As per FDA rules, SHGs with a turnover less than Rs 12 lakh need to register with the body while those with a turnover above Rs 12 lakh per annum need to secure licences.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, said, "Every SHG employed in cooking midday meals for schools have to secure licences from the FDA or register themselves, whatever is applicable. However, we do not have the data on how many such SHGs are involved in cooking midday meals in the entire district."
Kekare said it was the responsibility of schools to ensure the SHG has the required licence to cook food, before employing them. Kekare said that surprise checks are carried out on SHGs that are licenced or registered with them, samples collected and tested for their quality.
It is not just the FDA that does not have a count of SHGs but also the zilla parishad. Sunil Kurhade, education officer, Pune Zilla Parishad, said there are no statistics on the number of SHGs employed in cooking the meal in the district, but maintained that the taluka level education officer randomly visits schools and collect samples of cooked food. "It is totally up to the school to either employ village women or SHGs to cook the meal. There is no restriction. They have to enter into an agreement with the SHGs or the women for cooking," he said, adding that as per government orders, the cooked food is first tasted by a teacher or the school principal before it is distributed. A food sample is set aside for 24 hours every day, to check if anything goes wrong, he said.
Experts and activists have often questioned the quality of food served to students. Last year, 78 students of municipal primary school number 5, located at Janata Vasahat in Parvati, had suffered from food poisoning after they ate stale food served under the midday meal scheme. Their condition stabilized after undergoing treatment at three private hospitals.
"The authorities concerned should take the issue of SHGs' registration (with the FDA) on priority. Chances of food adulteration and food poisoning are more during monsoon. So more precautions are needed while preparing the food for schools," said Vijay Kumbhar, founder of Surajya Sangharsha Samiti, a citizens' group.
Food File
There are 8,000 schools in Pune district and midday meals are provided to an estimated 8 lakh students
In the Pune civic limits, midday meal is provided to 92,000 students in 600-odd schools
Schools employ an SHG to cook the meal and in places where there are no SHGs, the school employs women from the village to cook the food
While there are 160 SHGs cooking midday meals for schools in the municipal limits, there is no count of SHGs cooking for schools that come under the zilla parishad
According to FDA stats, just about 18 SHGs in Pune district (including those in the civic limits and in the zilla parishad) are licenced
Another 103 SHGs and 35 anganwadis are registered with the FDA
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