Project Approval Board Meeting, New Delhi ( ) SARDAR PATEL INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC & SOCIAL RESEARCH, GUJARAT 1 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Name of the monitoring institution : Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research (SPIESR), Ahmedabad Period of the report: 1 st August 2010 – 31st March 2011 No. of Districts allocated: 03 Districts District names : Kheda, Gandhinagar, Anand 2 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Sample School Visited by MI in 03 Districts S.NoDistrict No. of Blo cks Total No. of Sch oolsName of BlocksSpecific observation 1Kheda0540 Nadiad, Balasinor, Virpur, Kheda, Matar 4 schools MDM is managed by Nagarpalika centralized kitchen in Nadiyad block.. 2Gandhinagar0440 Gandhinagar, Kalol, Mansa, Dehgam 30 schools are provided MDM by the AP foundation 3Anand0540 Sojitra, Anand, Aklav, Tarapur, Borsad Total SPIESR-MDM-2011

Provision of Serving Hot Cooked Food in selected Districts  Kheda District: All the schools covered used to serve hot cooked food to school children.  Gandhinagar District: All 100 % of schools covered in the district used to serve hot cooked food.  Anand District: All the schools covered in the district used to serve hot cooked food. 4 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Trends of MDM consumption Kheda District: In more than 47 % of the school covered majority children (80%) had actually availed MDM. However, in 20% of the schools covered in the district, less than 50 % of the children actually availed MDM. Gandhinagar District: In 25% of the school covered majority children (80%) had actually availed MDM. However, in 3% of the schools covered in the district, less than 50 % of the children actually availed MDM. Anand District: In more than 57 % of the school covered majority children (80%) had actually availed MDM. However, in 7.5% of the schools covered in the district, less than 50 % of the children actually availed MDM. 5 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Regularity in Delivering Food Grains to School Level Kheda District: Trend of discontinuity was noticed in 4 (10%) visited schools. Gandhinagar District: All the schools covered in the district used to get regular food grain supply. Anand District: This trend of discontinuation was noticed in 4 (10%) visited schools. 6 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Regularity in Delivering Cooking Cost to School Level Kheda District: 36 (90.0%) visited schools were receiving the cooking cost in advance regularly. Gandhinagar District: All (100%) visited schools were receiving the cooking cost in advance regularly. Anand District: 36 (90.0%) visited schools were receiving the cooking cost in advance regularly. All the schools were receiving the cooking cost by cheque. 7 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Social Equity Kheda District: MI has not observed any gender or caste or community discrimination in cooking or serving or seating arrangements in visited schools. Gandhinagar District: MI has not observed any gender or caste or community discrimination in cooking or serving or seating arrangements in all visited schools. Anand District: MI found only 1 (2.5%) school with gender or caste or community discrimination in cooking or serving or seating arrangements out of 40 visited schools. Note: In all the districts covered, the MI had observed that the boys and girls were encouraged to sit in separate queues while taking the MDM in most of the visited schools.. 8 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Variety of Menu Kheda District: The MI has found that 3 schools (7.5%) are not adhering to the menu provided to them. Besides all the schools were serving MDM constituted of Dal/Wheat/vegetables on daily basis. Gandhinagar District: All the visited schools in the district are adhering to the menu provided to them. Besides all the schools were serving MDM made up of Dal/Wheat/vegetables on daily basis. Anand District: among all the visited school, 4 schools (10%) are not adhering to the menu provided to them. However, all the schools were serving MDM constituted of Dal/Wheat/vegetables on daily basis. 9 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Quality & Quantity of Meal Kheda District:  The MI has noticed that 24(60.0%) schools out of 40 schools were receiving good quality food grains.  Similarly 30 schools (75.0%) served with good quality cooked food to children.  All the schools (40) visited were found to provide with sufficient quantity of cooked food to children.  36 schools (90%) were found to have potable water for children. Gandhinagar District:  The MI has noticed that 6(60.0%) schools out of the 10 schools were receiving good quality food grains. Rest of the 30 schools visited in Gandhinagar have central kitchen concept and are being served with cooed food from outside i.e. agencies sanctioned for the purpose  38 schools (95.0%) served with good quality cooked food to children.  All the schools (40) visited were found to provide with sufficient quantity of cooked food to children.  32 schools (80%) were found to have potable water for children. Anand District:  The MI has noticed that 27(67.5%) schools were receiving good quality food grains.  35 schools (87.5%) served with good quality cooked food to children.  All the schools (40) visited were found to provide with sufficient quantity of cooked food to children.  34 schools (85.0%) were found to have potable water for children. 10 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Supplementary Kheda District: 32 schools (80.0%) organised health check up camps for children. Gandhinagar District: Among all the visited schools in the district, 32 schools (80.0%) organised health check up camp for children. Anand District: 35 schools (87.5%) organised health check up camp for children. 11 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Status of Cooks Kheda District: It was found that in all the 40 schools, the appointed cook & helpers are adequate to meet the requirement of the school MDM. In most of the schools (39 schools, 97.5%), the cook/helper belonged to SC/ST/OBC/Minority. Gandhinagar District: in all the 40 schools, the appointed cook & helpers are adequate to meet the requirement of the school MDM. In most of the schools (36 schools, 90.0%), the cook/helper belonged to SC/ST/OBC/Minority. Anand District: Appointed cook & helpers in all the schools visited, are adequate to meet the requirement of the school MDM. In most of the schools (38 schools, 95.0%), the cook/helper belonged to SC/ST/OBC/Minority. 12 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Infrastructure Kheda District: The facility of pucca kitchen -cum-store is constructed and in use by 23 (57.75%) schools. Gandhinagar District: The facility of pucca kitchen shed- cum-store is constructed and in use by 9 (90%) out of 10 schools. Anand District: The facility of pucca kitchen shed-cum- store is constructed and in use by 23 (57.75%) schools. 13 SPIESR-MDM-2011

INFRASTRUCTURE Kheda District  Only 23 (57.75%)schools showed food storage and kitchen facility in the schools  33 schools (82.5%) updated their MDM register regularly  36 schools (90%) were found to have cooking utensils and all the 40 schools visited provided dishes for MDM to children. Gandhinagar district  All the schools visited showed food storage and kitchen facility in the schools  30 schools (75%) updated their MDM register regularly  All the schools were found to have cooking utensils and all the schools visited provided dishes for MDM to children. Anand District  32 schools (80%) showed food storage and 30 schools (75%) had kitchen facility in the schools  30 schools (75%) updated their MDM register regularly  38 schools (95%) were found to have cooking utensils and 34 (85%) schools provided dishes for MDM to children. 14 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Infrastructure contd…. Kheda District  8 schools were using open space as an alternative for cooking MDM.  Potable water facility for cooking and drinking was missing in 2 schools.  36 (90%) schools had adequate utensils for cooking MDM. Gandhinagar district  Only one school was using open space as an alternative place for cooking MDM.  Potable water facility for cooking and drinking was available in all the schools.  All the schools had adequate utensils for cooking MDM. Anand District  11 schools (27.5%) were found to cook MDM in open space as an alternative place for cooking MDM.  Potable water facility for cooking and drinking was missing in 6 schools.  All the schools had adequate utensils for cooking MDM. 15 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Safety & Hygiene Kheda District:  95 % of the schools (38) encouraged the children to wash hands before and after the meal.  In all the schools (40, 100%)visited, the children were found to take their food in an orderly manner.  Water conservation was taken care while washing hands and utensils by 25 (62%) of the schools visited.  All the schools followed safe cooking process and safe fuel storage Gandhinagar District:  97.5 % of the schools (39) encouraged the children to wash hands before and after the meal.  In all the schools visited, the children were found to take their food in an orderly manner.  Water conservation was taken care while washing hands and utensils by 17 (42.5%) of the schools visited.  All the schools followed safe cooking process and safe fuel storage Anand District:  All the schools 38,(95% ) encouraged the children to wash hands before and after the meal.  In all the schools (40, 100%)visited, the children were found to take their food in an orderly manner.  Water conservation was taken care while washing hands and utensils by 21 (52.5%) of the schools visited.  All the schools followed safe cooking process and safe fuel storage. 16 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Community Participation Kheda District: It was found by MI that in 11 (27.5%) schools schools either parents or VEC and others from the community actively supervised and monitored MDM daily. Gandhinagar District: It was found by MI that in 19 (47.5%) schools either parents or VEC members monitored MDM daily. Anand District: In 29 (72.5%) schools, either parents or VECs monitored MDM daily. 17 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Inspection & Supervision Kheda District: in 9 schools (22.5%), the inspection of mid day meal programme was done by state/district/block level officers/officials in this district. Gandhinagar District: The inspection of mid day meal programme by district/block level officers/officials in this district was found to be irregular in more than 60% of the schools visited. Anand District: The inspection of mid day meal programme by any state/district/block level officers/officials in this district was found to be irregular in more than 65% of the schools visited. 18 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Other Issues Kheda District: A satisfactory impression for MDM was found in > 70% schools visited in the district. Gandhinagar District: A satisfactory impression for MDM was reported in 38 (95%) out of the total 40 schools visited. Anand District: A satisfactory impression for MDM was found in > 60% of the schools. 19 SPIESR-MDM-2011

IMPACT OF MDM Kheda District:  MDM has improved student enrollment and attendance in all the 40 (100%) schools visited.  MDM has improved general health and nutritional status of children in 25 schools (62.5%). Gandhinagar District:  MDM has improved student enrollment and attendance in 39 (97.5%) of the schools visited.  MDM has improved general health and nutritional status of children in 22 schools (55%) Anand District:  MDM has improved student enrollment and attendance in all the 40 (100%) schools visited.  MDM has improved general health and nutritional status of children in 22 schools (55%) 20 SPIESR-MDM-2011

Source of awareness for MDM DistrictTeacher N % School N % Villagers N % Newspaper N % Kheda % % % % Gandhinagar32 80% %9 22.5% Anand34 85%28 70% SPIESR-MDM-2011

Overall observation of MDM None of the school visited in all the 3 districts are providing supplementary nutrition to the children. VEC/WEC participation in MDM is very irregular in all the 3 districts. Gender discrimination is not observed however, boys and girls are encouraged to sit in separate lines in most of the schools. Services provided by the AP Foundation is found to be satisfactory in Gandhinagar district.

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