The procurement of Dal for mid-day meals will no longer be a part of a school teacher’s responsibility. The trend of ever-changing retailer when the quality of Dal is deteriorated will also come to a halt.
According to Human Resource Development Ministry, Dal would be provided ‘in kind’ to all the states from National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation.
This decision by Union Cabinet was intended to exhaust 19.2 lakh tonnes of pulses NAFED has been unable to disburse in a year.
While wheat and rice are majorly sourced from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Dal, vegetable oil, and fuel were procured locally from the amount granted by HRD ministry.
“Now as per the decision of the Government of India, pulses will be supplied under MDM scheme ‘in kind’ through the NAFED,” said Rina Ray, special secretary, HRD ministry, in a memorandum dated December 29, 2017.
11 lakh government schools have been providing midday meals to around 10 crore children every day is if the school is open.
