1 Major findings of Monitoring Institute on implementation of the MDM programme in PUNJAB STATE Name of the Monitoring Institution : Panjab University, Chandigarh Period of the Report : 1 st April 2012 to 31 st October, 2012 District’s Covered Month and date of Visit No of Schools visited in each district Primary Schools Upper Primary Schools others 1. Amritsar to STC= 9 2. Faridkot to STC= Ferozepur to STC= 3 4. Gurdaspur to STC= 5 5. Tarn Taran to STC= 3

2 1. Regularity in Serving Meals Major AchievementsCritical Points The hot cooked meal is served to all the children in the five districts in all schools which is cooked in the school premises in Four districts and in one district Ferozepur it is served by the NGO Istri Shakti from the centralised kitchens and served in the lunch hour. In District Ferozepur, food served by centralised kitchens is transported in auto rickshaws is not found hot. The containers for vegetables/ dal have loose lids and chapatis are not hot.

3 2. Trends Major AchievementsCritical Points All students opted for MDM. In overall scenario about 85% students are having MDM. However of the total present students on the day of visit more than 98.5% are having MDM. There was no evidence of any major surplus cooking or wastage of cooked food on the basis of daily estimation.

4 3. Social Equity Major AchievementsCritical Points All the children take meals together at the same time in their varandhas. No discrimination was observed in serving or seating arrangements in any district. MDM is served in the varandhas of the schools and the teacher are monitoring to wash their plates, hand and dine without wasting the food. The teacher are assigned to monitor the distribution with the help of cook cum helpers.. In 2 schools GPS (B) and GPS (G), Mamdot of Distt. Ferozepur, teachers are not taking care of discipline during food distribution and there is no arrangement of TATS/ DARIS for seating arrangement during serving the food.

5. Variety of Menu Major AchievementsCritical Points All schools have displayed its weekly menu on the notice boards or outside kitchen shed, and adhere to the menu displayed which is decided at the state level. For all six days different menu is there as decided at state level. All the visited schools in four districts i.e. Amritsar, Faridkot, Tarntaran, Gurdaspur- students are served good food as per the statement of the students. But teachers and parents in Distt. Ferozepur are not happy with the quality of food served by the centralised kitchen. As observed by MI- the quality of food is not as good as it is in other districts as served in Distt. Ferozepur by the NGO.

6. Quality & Quantity of Food: Major AchievementsCritical Points Quality of food is quite satisfactory. The quantity of food is in adequate amount. As per the statements of the school children and of the parents the MI came to know that majority of the children in the all the districts were happy with the quantity and quality of food served. In Ferozepur, district quality of food served by the centralized kitchen need to be improved.

7. Status of Cooks Major AchievementsCritical Points Cook cum helpers (Ayas) has been engaged in schools for cooking and serving the Rs. 1200/- pm Remuneration is paid to them regularly by the head, Majority of Cook cum helpers belong to SC/ST/OBC/ minority communities. But the grant of remuneration of cook cum helpers is late by 1-2 months, some procedural steps have to be taken to regularize the grants.

8. Infrastructure Major AchievementsCritical Points The kitchen sheds are constructed in all schools in all districts except in two schools of Faridkot. Storage bins available in all schools. In some schools kitchen sheds either not have grills or good doors to store the grains with proper security.

9. Safety & Hygiene Major AchievementsCritical Points Clean environment of cooking areas in majority of the schools. Water Blockage problem is there in 20-25% schools of all Districts due to that foul smell is there near the cooking areas. In district Ferozepur in the centralisede kitchen of Abohar block the outer area of the centralised kitchen is not clean as there was stagnant water.

10. Potable Water Major AchievementsCritical Points Potable water available in all schools for drinking purpose. Cleaning of over head water tanks and drinking areas is needed urgently in 25-30% schools of all districts. Poor Cleaning of water areas in 5 schools of Amritsar; 4 of Faridkot; 7 of Ferozepur; 5 of Gurdaspur; 5 of Tarntaran district. Quality of ground water is not good in 11 schools of Amritsar district; 8 of Faridkot; 14 of Ferozepur; 10 of Gurdaspur; 13 of Tarntaran district; water purifiers need to be installed.

11 Adequacy of Utensils: Major Achievements Adequate utensils available for cooking the food in all schools in all districts. Grant for purchase of utensils for having MDM is given to all schools in September- October, 2012 in all districts and schools were making purchases.

12. Fuel Used Major AchievementsCritical Points LPG and firewood is used in schools as cooking fuel. Teachers face problem in procurement of LPG. In 27 Schools of Amritsar; 28 of Faridkot; 22 of Gurdaspur and 23 of Tarntaran district were using Fire wood for 8-10 days a month. In 5-10% schools of all districts, there is reported theft of cylinders and other materials from the kitchens mainly in Primary schools.

13. Supplementary Major AchievementsCritical Points The Health Department of Punjab is taking care of health checkups of all the students twice a year. The Deworming suspension, Deworming tablets, Iron Folic acid tablets are distributed among students according to their age and requirements. School Health card of all students are maintained. Teachers are helping to distribute the medicines but those teachers need to be trained by some orientation programme regarding it by the deptt.

14 Inspection & Supervision Major AchievementsCritical Points Before serving the cooked food Principals/ Heads/ incharges of Mid Day Meal used to check and taste the food in the school. Assistant Block Managers were visiting the schools for checking the food preparation and other aspects regarding stock, quality of food etc. occasionally.. Centralised kitchens need to be inspected regularly by the state officials.

15. Community Participation and Awareness Major AchievementsCritical Points Almost in all the visited schools by the MI it was found that the SMC/ MTA members are used to visit occasionally, to monitor and participate in the MDM activities.. No record is maintained by any of the school regarding supervision by parents/SMC. No roaster is being prepared for monitoring by parents. More SMC/PTA/MTA participation required

16. Impact of MDMS Major Achievements & Critical Points MDM has improved the attendance to some extent and general wellbeing of the children but no major effect on enrolment due to only MDM as reported by heads & teachers. As per the inputs received from the headmasters and teachers of the sampled schools, the introduction of MDM has improved somewhat the attendance of students in the school; in schools, headmasters and teachers of the sample schools reported that the introduction of MDM has improved the attendance of students after recess;

17 Presentation by: NameDr. Jatinder Grover Official Designation and Nodal Officer Assistant Professor (Education) Name & Address of the Monitoring Institute Panjab University, Chandigarh. Office phone No Mobile No ; ID