1. 1 Major findings of Monitoring Institute on implementation of the MID DAY MEAL SCHEME in CHANDIGARH (U.T.) 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 and Upper Primary Schools) Primary section Schools Upper Primary section Schools others 1.Chandigarh U.T. 20.08.2012 to 05.10. 2012 2119STC= 13

2. 2 1. Regularity in Serving Meals Major AchievementsCritical Points The hot cooked meal is served by the four centralized kitchens run by four institutes and these provide cooked food to all the schools of Chandigarh on rotation basis of three day turn by turn. Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Sec-42, Chandigarh. Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management, Sec-42, Chandigarh. Chandigarh Industrial & Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO), Sec- 17, Chandigarh. Rajiv Associate set-up base kitchen at GMSSS-47, Chandigarh. One school kitchen i.e. in GMSSS- Sector-10 is made functional for the school. In winter, Parathas, Rice. Cooked vegetables not remain hot during transportation to schools. Reheating is done but that does not serve the purpose.

3. 3 2. Trends Major AchievementsCritical Points 4.37% students have not opted for MDM in schools at all in the visited schools. On the day of visit 76.14% students were having MDM as per head count (full meal). From centralised kitchen food is sent for the ¾ in the schools of the total students who are having MDM in overall scenario.

4. 4 Trends Conti….. Major AchievementsCritical Points In all schools the food is sent from the kitchen for the ¾ of the total having MDM and the quantity of food is enough for all. About 10-12% students (vary from school to school) take only vegetables on some specific menu day like Karhi pakora, Rajmah. There was no evidence of any major surplus cooking or wastage of cooked food on the basis of daily estimation. It is noticed on the day of visit 76.14% students of the total present were having MDM actually. Moreover, in Chandigarh, in the schools of inner skirts of the city, about 22-25% students were regularly bringing their lunch from home also, however majority of them have opted for MDMS; in the outskirts schools of the city, and in villages about 10- 12% students were bringing lunch from home regularly and they take food only when food is of their choice. Students in the evening shift primary schools are served only rice based menu for all the six days and chapattis are not served at all to them which is not liked by the students.

5. 5 3. Social Equity Major AchievementsCritical Points All the children take meals together at the same time in their classrooms. No discrimination at all was observed in serving or seating arrangements. MDM is served in the classrooms of the school. and the teacher are monitoring to wash their tiffins, hand and dine without wasting the food. The teacher are assigned to monitor the distribution with the help of aayas. In over crowded schools of the outer sectors, its very difficult to serve food in classrooms and students are having food wherever they get the space.

6. 6. Variety of Menu Major AchievementsCritical Points All schools have displayed its weekly menu, and centralized kitchens. GMSSS-10 also adhere to the displayed menu displayed and here Puri based menu is very liked by students. For all six days different menu is there but rice based menu is served on more days which is not liked by the students on routine. In menu, however variety is there, but green and seasonal vegetables are only on 1-2 day a week. These to be included in the menu more than one time like to make the diet more nutritious. Acc. to responses of parents and students- Fruits to be distributed one-two times in a week; Chapattis should be included in place of parathas. Chapatis/Parathas should be given more times in a week. In the evening shift schools i.e. primary schools only rice are served for the whole week. No wheat based menu is there.

7. MENU served

9. 9. Transportation of Food Major AchievementsCritical Points The cooked meals are transported from the centralized kitchen to schools by trucks. The route is changed daily so that one particular school is not the privileged first school to get the food early. Hot Cases should be used in winter for transporting the food.

10. 10. Quality & Quantity of Food: Major AchievementsCritical Points Quality of food is quite satisfactory. The quantity of food is in adequate amount. The food supplied by different institutions is quite appreciable. The cooking areas are neat and clean. As per the statements of the school children and of the parents the MI came to know that all the children in the visited schools were happy with the quantity and quality of food served. On more days wheat based menu should be provided, it’s the major demand only.

11. 11. Cook cum helpers Major Achievements Cook cum helpers (Ayas) has been engaged in schools for serving the meals and washing the utensils. Rs. 2622/- pm is paid. Remuneration is paid regularly. Majority of Ayas belong to SC/ST/OBC/ minority communities.

12. 12. Infrastructure Major AchievementsCritical Points The four supplying institutes have their own kitchen cum storage areas. Kitchen sheds have been constructed in 7 different Government schools with facilities of storage for dry and wet ration etc. One kitchen shed located in GMSSS-10, on trial basis has been started to serve food to the students cooked in school premises. Remaining 6 kitchen sheds have been used for serving MDM to the students. Students in GMSSS-10; are getting good food; a rice based and puri based menu. Infrastructure is good of the kitchen shed. All Kitchen sheds to be completed very soon and be operationalised for food cooking and serving, so that more nutritious, hot and varietal food can be provided to the students.

13. 13. Safety & Hygiene Major AchievementsCritical Points Clean environment of cooking area. Schools are engaged only in distribution of food. In almost all schools, students take meal in orderly manner in their classrooms; as serving areas are the classrooms and no common shed is there. Students bring their own empty tiffins to have food. Ayas serve the food and class teachers supervise and help to serve the food. Cooking process and storage of fuel is totally safe at all the four centralized kitchen centers. Cooking gas (LPG) is used for cooking the food. But cleanliness of classrooms required after the meals in the schools are over especially in the schools of outskirts and villages. In schools of Khuda Ali sher, Sector- 12 (primary and high school), Makhan Majra and Daddu Majra more cleaning is required in the classrooms after the meals.

14. 14. Potable Water Major AchievementsCritical Points Potable water available in all schools for drinking purpose. Water coolers with water filters are installed in all the schools. Cleaning of over head water tanks is done once a year by the Municipal Committee of the city. Due to high density of students population in the schools of outskirts of city, more water tanks to be constructed/ installed to there and regular cleaning i.e. minimum thrice a year is required.

15. 15. Supplementary Major Achievements The Health Department of UT Administration is taking care of health checkups of all the students twice a year. The Deworming tablets and other nutrition supplements etc. are also distributed among students according to their age and requirements with the help of teachers. School Health card of all students are maintained.

16. 16. Inspection & Supervision Major Achievements Cooking at the four institutes is supervised by the Principals/Heads of the schools from 5:00 to 8:00 a.m. & 8: 00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. (Principals/ Heads) in rotation. Retired personnel have been engaged as Inspectors/Supervisors to monitor the cooking and distribution of cooked meal in the schools. Before serving the cooked food Principals/ Heads/ incharges of Mid Day Meal used to check and taste the food in the school. In GMSSS-10; the kitchen is in a good shape (infrastructure very good) and cleanliness is very good. Head and MDM incharge taking care of every thing.

17. 17. Community Participation and Awareness Major AchievementsCritical Points Almost in all the visited schools by the MI it was found that the SMC members are used to visit occasionally, to monitor and participate in the MDM activities. As reported by heads and teachers, in 09 (22.5 %) schools parents/ MTA/ SMC members participated in supervision and monitoring of MDM once a week. In 31 (77.5%) schools MTA members/ parents monitor and supervise MDM fortnightly. No record is maintained by any of the school regarding supervision by parents/SMC. No roaster is being prepared for monitoring by parents.

18. 18. 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 MDM as reported by heads & teachers. As per the inputs received from 12.5% (5) of the headmasters and teachers of the sampled schools, the introduction of MDM has improved somewhat the attendance of students in the school; in 20% (8) of the schools, headmasters and teachers of the sample schools reported that the introduction of MDM has improved the attendance of students after recess; while as many as in 25% (10) schools, teachers and heads reported an improvement in the nutritional status of the children due to timely intake of food and medicines to the poor students.

19. 19 Presentation by: NameDr. Jatinder Grover Official Designation and Nodal Officer Assistant Professor (Education) Name & Address of the Monitoring Institute Panjab University, Chandigarh. Office phone No0172-2534301 Mobile No09855425672; 08427297000 Email ID :jatinder1633@gmail.com

20. THANX

36. 36 2. Trends (3 rd Quarter Report) Major AchievementsCritical Points 7.93% students have not opted for MDM in schools at all in the visited schools. On the day of visit 68.43% students were having MDM as per head count. From centralised kitchen food is sent for the ¾ of the total students who are having MDM.