Half Yearly MDM Monitoring Report in the 5 Sampled Districts of Bihar during 1 st January 2010 – 31 st August 2010 MI Coordinator: Dr. Shoeb Abdullah, Reader Faculty of Education, Director SRC, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DELHI

Functionality of MDM  MDM is functional in 91% of the schools in the districts. Out of schools MDM is functional in 9440 (90.82%) schools.  MDM is function in 100% schools of Araria, Kishanganj and Madhubani while it is functional in 68.25% schools of Bhagalpur and 94.81% schools of Purnea.  No untoward incident is reported regarding MDM in the sample districts.

 Though MDM is operational in most schools in all five districts. But the scheme is not continuously operational in all the schools because rice is not available in all schools which adversely affect the regularity and also attendance of children.  In the district of Kishanganj, supply of rice by FCI was irregular due to delay in clearance of cheques by banks.  In Madhubani and Purnea, supply of rice by FCI is more erratic Regularity in Serving Meal

Regularity in delivering food grain  Out of 102 schools in Araria, 82 (80.4%) schools have reported that they are receiving food grains regularly, 20 (19.6%) schools have reported that they are not receiving food grains regularly, as rice has not been delivered to schools.  Out of 116 schools in Bhagalpur, 86 (74.1%) schools have reported that they are receiving food grains regularly, 30 (25.9%) schools have reported that they are not receiving food grains regularly, as rice has not been delivered to schools.  Out of 98 schools in Kishanganj, 52 (53.1%) schools have reported that they are receiving food grains regularly, 46 (46.9%) schools have reported that they are not receiving food grains regularly, as rice has not been delivered to schools.  Out of 160 schools in Madhubani, 111 (69.4%) schools have reported that they are receiving food grains regularly, 49 (30.6%) schools have reported that they are not receiving food grains regularly, as rice has not been delivered to schools.  Out of 106 schools in Purnea, 82 (77.4%) schools have reported that they are receiving food grains regularly, 24 (22.6%) schools have reported that they are not receiving food grains regularly, as rice has not been delivered to schools.

Buffer Stock Maintained  In all the districts, schools have reported that they have maintained one month buffer stock.  39 (38.2%) schools in Araria, 30 (25.9%) schools in Bhagalpur, 15 (15.3%) schools in Kishanganj, 21(13.13%) schools in Madhubani and 37 (34.9%) schools in Purnea have reported that they have not maintained buffer stock.

Regularity in Delivering Cooking Costs  65 – 75% schools of the sampled districts have reported to receive cooking costs in advance regularly.  In case of delay 16 – 20% schools have opted to close MDM whereas 2 – 5% schools have stated to manage through other funds or with the help of VSS

Social Equity  In all the sampled schools MI observed that a social equality is maintained among children during MDM preparation, distribution and intake.  No school has reported any discrimination on the basis of gender, caste or disability.

Quantity and Quality of MDM  Almost all the students, teachers and parents have expressed their satisfaction with the quality and quantity of MDM. MI observed the happiness on the faces of children after taking MDM.  The students were not satisfied where NGOs were serving the meal. The meal was not served hot and quantity was also less as observed at MS Chaklaghat in the district of Kishanganj as the quantity of rice and Dal supplied by NGO Dayawati Educational and Charitable Society was not sufficient for 750 students present on the day of visit

Is it possible to feed 750 students from the quantity shown below?

Menu of MDM  90% of the sampled schools have displayed the weekly menu either on wall board or on chart paper.  More than 80% students, 78% teachers and 78% parents of 582 sampled schools have stated that there is variety in the food service and same food is not served daily.  In some of the (5%) sampled schools students complained that khichri is served daily from the last week.

Micronutrients and De worming medicines  Only 25 – 30% of the sampled schools have stated the micronutrients and de worming medicines have been given  These medicines are mostly administered by the teachers and not by the medical practitioners  Health card is not maintained most of the schools. Only 5% to 8% sampled schools have reported to initiate health card.

Status of Cook  In 33% of sampled schools cook belong to SC/ST category, in 18% of schools, the cook belong to minority community.  In 62% of schools cooks and helpers were women.  Remuneration of cook varies from Rs. 1000/ pm to Rs.2200/pm  Many cooks complained that remuneration is too less to support family.

Fuel Used  In 82% of the sampled schools wood is used as fuel, cooking coal is used in 11% and gas is in 13 (2%) schools. 5% schools have not mentioned the type of fuel.

Status of Kitchen Shed  In most of the sampled schools (65-70%), Pucca Kitchen shed is constructed. In 7-10% schools pucca shed construction is in progress.  Food grain is stored either in classrooms or in HM office where pucca shed is not constructed.

Suggestions  The distribution system through FCI needs a regular monitoring.  The quality of rice, wheat and pulses to be checked at FCI godown.  The central Kitchen by NGO should be located in the vicinity of schools and should not exceed a radius of 5 kilometers.  MDM works should preferably be given to VSS