Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 3: The Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Sena staged a protest outside the education officer’s office in Jogeshwari on Wednesday opposing a proposed move to make school principals responsible for the mid-day meal programme.

The protest followed concerns raised by JM Abhyankar, MLC from the Mumbai Teachers Constituency, over reports that school principals may be required to obtain registration or a licence as Food Business Operators (FBOs) under food safety regulations.

In a letter to the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Abhyankar said obtaining the licence in the name of a school could make the principal legally responsible for the entire process of providing meals to students, from cooking to serving.

He expressed concern that principals could also be held accountable for any irregularity or problem related to the food, even though the government supplies the grains and other food materials and principals have no control over their quality.

Abhyankar pointed out that teachers are already responsible for maintaining records of food materials and submitting reports, while cooking is generally carried out by appointed workers. Requiring principals to monitor every stage of the process, he said, would be impractical as they are already responsible for academic administration, teaching-related matters and maintaining the overall quality of their schools.

Existing government guidelines require schools to maintain hygienic cooking areas and utensils, provide safe drinking water and ensure that students are served good-quality and balanced meals. Schools are also required to verify the quality and quantity of food materials, maintain daily records and ensure that meals are served and consumed in clean surroundings.

The guidelines also state that parents should taste the food before it is served, while the School Management Committee and the principal are responsible for monitoring the quality of the meals.

Against this backdrop, Abhyankar suggested that the government appoint NGOs through district- or taluka-level tendering to manage the mid-day meal programme. Where such an arrangement is not possible, he proposed that the responsibility be entrusted to the School Management Committee.

Abhyankar urged the FDA Commissioner not to make school principals primarily responsible for the mid-day meal programme, saying principals should instead be allowed to focus on their core responsibilities of education, academic administration and improving the quality of their schools.