1. Dr.Rafiqul Islam Nodal Officer Visva – Bharati University, Monitoring Institute for West-Bengal Mid Day Meal Programme ( MDM)

2. (i) District MonitoredHooghly & Purulia. (ii) Date of visit to the District: Hooghly- 18-30.11.2013, Purulia- 09-22.12.2013 (iii) Period of ReportOctober-2013 to March, 2014 i.e.2nd Half Yearly Monitoring report of the year 2013. (iv) Sample Size Hooghly,- Primary-30, UPS-11= 41 Purulia - Primary-32, UPS-12= 44 Background Information

3. Regularity in Serving MDM Reveals that all the sample primary and upper primary schools are providing daily cook MDM. One month buffer stocks are maintained in 16.67% (05) & 2 months in 07 (23.33%) primary schools (Hooghly).

4. Regularity in supply of Food grain: Found 63.33% (19) primary schools & 90.91% (10) UPS receiving the food grains in the schools in time and the rest are always in delay. One month buffer stocks are maintained in 16.67% (05), 2 months in 07 (23.33%) and 3 months in 16 (53.33%) primary schools and 10 (90.91%) UPS three months buffer stock are maintained (Hooghly). Two to three months buffer stock are maintained in 06 (66.67%) UPS (Purulia)

5. Cooking Cost of MDM: The abnormal delay payment of cooking cost hamper the MDM. Reveals that only in 08 (25%) sample primary schools and one UPS received the cooking cost regularly. (Purulia) MI found that only one sample primary school received the cooking cost regularly. (Hooghly)

6. Social Equity Menu No gender/caste/ community discrimination are found in cooking or serving or seating arrangements of the MDM. It was noticed that 21(70%) primary schools and 03 (27.27%)% UPS displayed the menu. (Hooghly) and in Purulia 09 (28.13 %) primary 03 (33.33 %) UPS.

7. Overall Observations There is no formal contribution to MDM but the parents are aware and do visit to the schools for MDM. It is considered as Govt. program and reluctant to contribute. Community Mobilization

8. Inspection &MIS MI found 60% (18) primary schools and 04 (36.36%)UPS are inspected and recorded in register.Hooghly Found that 43.75% primary and 11.11% UPS maintained records and registers.Purulia Financial Management The head teacher of respective schools maintained all records and registers for MDM and do share the accounts with the VEC and forwarded for necessary payment. Both the districts.

9. Convergence with other Programmes Health card are maintained in all sample schools & 02 (06.67%) primary schools & 09 (81.82%) UPS micronutrients and de-worming medicine are given. In 22 (73.33%) primary schools & 08 (72.73%) UPS the height and weight record is indicated in the school health card. (Hooghly) It is reported that 12 (44.44%) of primary schools and 07 (77.87%) UPS are provided the Iron, folic acid and de-worming medicines. (Purulia) Overall Observations Poor performance of school health programs and positive point are children encouraged to wash hands before and after eating and being monitor by the students and teachers.

10. Kitchen device and Storage: All the sample schools have adequate utensils purchased out of the MDM fund. Found that 10 (33.33%) food grains are kept it in unused class room, 15 (50%) are in office room 03 (10%) & stair 02(06.67%) of the primary schools. In UPS 05(50%) has store room, use class room 02 (20%) & Unused class room 03 (30%). Rice are kept in bags & a few primary schools it is kept in dram.

11. Status of Cook cum Helpers Overall Observations Overwhelmingly majority of the places the MDM are manage by the SHGs with the involvement of Local self Govt. No sample schools are under centralized kitchen. In 28 (87.50%) primary and 07 (77.87%)UPS cooking of the MDM are managed by the SHG members. The cooks use to get honorarium as per GOI norms but many are involved in a single school.(Purulia) All the sample primary and UPS the cooking is managed by the local SHGs.(Hooghly)

12. Infrastructure Overall Observations Infrastructure facilities particularly in the UPS need attention and at places it is difficult to manage the MDM. Found that 12 (40%) primary schools and 04 (36.36%) UPS have pacca kitchen cum store. Fire wood is used in 09 (30%) primary schools coal base fuel in 16 (53.33%) and LPG are in 05 (16.67%) schools and in UPS fire wood is used in 05 (50%) schools Coal base fuel in 02 (20%) and LPG are in 03 (30%).(Hooghly) There are15(46.88%) primary schools have pacca kitchen cum store and 05 (55.56%) UPS have kitchen cum store.(Purulia)

13. Observations1. Cooking cost is not paid regularly. 2. Few school reported about less weight of rice begs. 3.Menu is not displayed in many schools regularly. 4. Kitchen Garden are found for MDM. 5. There is dress for cooks/helpers. 1.Irregular supply of food grains hampers the MDM. 2. MLA-LAD contribution are found. 3. Quantity of rice is inadequate mainly in tribal/minority area. 4.The activities of the school Health programs are poor.

14.  There is direct impact of MDM in the school attendance as opined by the parents /teachers/community.  The schools teachers get more time for class room teaching where MDM are manage by the SHGs/others.  All the sample schools are in use of idolized salt.  Under privileged community women are involved in cooking & serving the MDM.  Washing hands before meal are maintained. A.Positive points:

15.  Irregular supply of rice for MDM.  Irregular payments of cooks/helpers.  Excess use of fire woods in most of the places for MDM.  Community participation is not up to the mark.  Poor performances of School health program.  Due to space problem MDM are unmanageable in the overcrowded UPS. B. Area of concerns:

16.  To ensure the community participation by empowering a team of members from the VEC to supervise the MDM.  Monitoring mechanism from outside the community is to be strengthened.  Improvement of quality of MDM by enhancing the budgetary provision.  Regular supply of food grains to the school and regular payments of cooking cost.  MDM should be provided to the all working days of the school.  Less number of SHGs should be involved in a month for cooking MDM in a particular school and training for the SHG members.  CRC should be pro- active in managing the MDM.  All information of MDM to be place in the notice board of the school. C. Suggestions for improvement of the Scheme

17. Thank you