GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Human Resource and Development
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1306
ANSWERED ON AUGUST 19, 2013 

QUESTION
ILL-Health and Death Due to Mid Day Meal

1306. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR 

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: 

(a)   how many cases of ill-health and death have been reported after consuming mid day meal (MOM) during the preceding year 2012-13 in the country, State-wise and UT-wise;

 (b)   the number of licences that have been cancelled, as a result of providing poor quality of food in schools, State-wise; 

(c)    how many States have administrative mechanisms in place for monitoring of and grievance redressal on MDM quality and RTE compliance at the school level, respectively

 (d)   the percentage of  schools that have a kitchen shed, running water facilities, usable toilet facilities and a cook for the MDM in each state (separately and all above, for each state); and 

(e)   on an average, how many hours the teachers and head teachers of a school spend on procuring, administering and supervising the scheme? 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SHASHI THAROOR) 

(a) & (b): A total of 4 cases in 2012 and 8 Cases 2013 of ill-health and death after consuming the mid day meal (MDM) have come to the notice of the Government. The State/UT wise details are given below. 

The action taken include a warning to the concerned NGO and officers responsible, the initiation of departmental proceedings against the Principal / Headmaster, the suspension of erring officials, termination of service of Block Resource Person in Bihar incident, the registration of criminal cases and arrest of the Head teacher and other responsible officials. 

(c): All the 35 States/UTs have set up grievance redressal mechanisms under the Mid Day Meal Scheme. Further 30 States/UTs have constituted State Commissions on the Protection of child Rights / Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) and the rest of the States/UTs are in the process of constitution of the same for the redressal grievances under the RTE. 

(d): The information has been provided in Annexure I and II. 

(e): Under the scheme, the Government has engaged 25, 48,208 cooks-cum-helpers so that the precious time of teacher is not wasted and spent on teaching and learning processes. The role of teachers is limited to supervision and tasting of the mid-day meal.

ANNEXURE I 

Annexure to part (d) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1306 for 19.08.2013 by Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar regarding ill-health and death due to mid day meal 

 ANNEXURE II

 Annexure to part (d) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1306 for 19.08.2013 by Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar regarding ill-health and death due to mid day meal 

 Note- In Chandigarh and Delhi the MDM is served through centralized kitchens. Delhi has not engaged helpers for serving the meals to children in the schools. In D&N Haveli construction has not started. In Goa cooking is done by Self Help Groups. Lakshadweep has not asked for any central funding as they have their own kitchens.