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The
secretary expressing his concern for such a situation and appealed
the government to immediately identify the grassroots realities
and find out the solution, so that the children may not be deprived
of their right to food and could progressively advance on the path
of becoming an enlightened citizen through their devoted learning.
Thereafter, Mr. Ashok Singh invited the village Pradhans for enkindling
the lamp so that the path of the schooling of the growing children
could be broadened in that light. The report released by Sri P.
C. Pandey, Chief Executive Officer of VANI, New Delhi. Speaking
on this occasion.
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The Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Voluntary
Action Network (UPVAN) Sri Ashok Singh welcomed
the participants and thanked them for their curiosity for the release
of the report on a vibrant issue. First of all he expressed his
gratitude for the active contribution of the heads and workers of
the organizations working of the grassroots level in attaining the
objectivity of the study. Thereafter, he briefly touched upon the
main finding of the study. He narrated that it has emerged from
this study that the scheme has not been successfully implemented.
The enrolment of students in primary schools did increase but they
are hardly staying in their classes. There has not been a visible
improvement in the health of the students by taking the so-called
nutritious food. It is because of the non-availability of foodgrains
of the desired quality. Instead, day in and day out the news of
the falling ill of the students after taking mid-day-meal in schools.
It is a happy augury that the Uttar Pradesh government in the Department
of Primary Education, taking the media news in to cognizance, has
constituted the Task Force for the enquiry. However, no permanent
solution is forthcoming. Of and on such news are repeated. It appeared
that the Department of Education is not able to identify its root
cause. The present study has brought to light that the root cause
is the supply of low quality of foodgrains. The provision of sample
checks at three points has been quite ineffective due lack of inter-departmental
coordination and corruption. If village Pradhans are blamed, they
feel agitated and come out for roadside demonstrations. The teachers
also avoid participating in this noble cause. 
Sri
Pandey thanked UPVAN and its member organizations
and particularly Sri J. N. Singh, Consultant UPVAN for conducting
a study on such an important issue of social importance. Tracing
the historical background of Mid-Day-Meal scheme he told that it
was first of all initiated as a relief measure in the disaster affected
areas by Madras Municipal Corporation in the year 1925 so that the
children of such areas may not be deprived of education due to their
empty bellies. He further expressed that it is the need of the day
that the objective assessment of Social and educational schemes
are made. It is to be particularly emphasized that how the funds
allocated are utilized on such schemes and programms? Whether the
target group is being benefited through them? It is essentially
needed to adjudge As to what extent the outlay of Rs. 2800 corers
have been utilized for the desired objectives. Sri Pandey placed
some of the suggestions for the successful implementation of this
scheme. 
Sri
J. N. Singh, Consultant, UPVAN, while presenting
the report on power point, told the audience that the National Programme
of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched
as a centrally sponsored scheme on 15th August 1995, initially in
2408 blocks of the country. Today NP-NSPE is the largest feeding
programme reaching on to about 12 corer children in over 9.50 Lakh
schools across the country. Barring few, all states were providing
3 Kgs of wheat/rice per child per month. It was only after the directives
of Hon. Supreme Court that cooked Mid-Day-Meal programme had to
be undertaken by the state governments after November 2001. In the
state of Uttar Pradesh also this scheme was initiated since 15th
August 1995 in a phased manner. In the first phase (1995-96) 248
blocks of 38 districts were covered, while during the second phase
(1996-97) total numbers of blocks were covered. During the year
2005-06 the scheme was in operation in 809 blocks of 70 districts,
extending benefits to 1.86 corer children of 94000 primary schools.
This scheme aims at enhancing enrolment and stay of children in
schools by providing nutritional food so that the children could
gain health and take keen interest in education. Indirectly it also
envisages the promotion of social values and equality through the
common sharing of food by children.
Sri
Sunil Singh, RAHI Foundation, Sitapur appreciating
the quality of study of Mid-Day-Meal conducted by UPVAN expressed
that although the scheme is laudable, yet it is not being properly
implemented, so as to put forth the desired impact. He appealed
the CSOs to come forward for organizing a campaign for making the
people aware about the present status of the scheme and build pressure
on government to streamline it. Sri Singh narrated the manner in
which the data collection process of the study raised awareness
level amongst the Gram Sabha. During the Focus Group Discussion
on MDM in a village, the Gram Sabha members became aware of the
provisions under MDM and forced the Pradhan to implement the scheme
in its true nature. 
Mr.
Shailendra Singh, Lokmitra, Raibareli appreciated
the report and highlighted the problems related to distribution
of food. According to him non-payment & irregular payment of
the cook & food distributors encouraged leakages in the scheme.
The only way to improve the functioning of the scheme is to involve
parents in monitoring the MDM. Presence of parents on a rotation
basis to oversee the cooking & distribution of MDM is a must
for a well-run MDM scheme. 
Dr.
Bhadauria (Rtd.) Rural life Analyst praised the
methodology of the study, as all the anomalies shown with scheme
did exist at the ground level. He told that the indifferent of the
guardians and negative attitude of the government officials are
the key deterrent factors in the path of successful implementation
of the scheme. He elaborated that all government run schemes have
similar problems. Awareness generation of the Gram Sabha is the
key to better functioning of the schemes. Thus, he suggested that
the report should be condensed in workable points and distributed
through pamphlets at the village level.
Dr.
Khan, Professor of Economics GIRI Institute of Development Studies,
Lucknow, emphasized that the report should be presented before the
concerned government officials. He did not like the implementation
of the scheme in the existing mode. He recommended that the government
should be looking all development schemes, especially poverty alleviation
that is ineffective. He instead suggested that the BPL families
should be a given a pension which would increase the purchasing
power of BPL Families.
Mr.
Diwaker Bhatt, Coordinator UPVAN acknowledged, the
important role, the media has played in highlighting the anomalies
in the scheme. He suggested that media and CSOs should join their
hands in streamlining this scheme.
Sri
Meva Lal, gram Pradhan, coming from the district
of Kanpur Dehat told that in his gram Panchayat there was problem
of supply of good quality of foodgrains. He brought it to the notice
of the concerned officers and presently he is getting good quality
of foodgrains. Appreciating the report he told that the suggestions
placed in the report, are worth translating in to action. He assured
the gathering that he would like to follow the same in streamlining
the scheme in his gram Panchayat area schools.
In the
concluding session Sri Debi Prasad
Gupta, Executive Member of UPVAN and an established
journalist expressed his concern on the unfortunate state of affairs
of Mid-Day-Meal scheme which is of prime importance because in the
state of Uttar Pradesh about 40 % families are living 'below poverty
line and their children are not getting nutritional food. He appealed
the press and CSOs to come together for the cause of the successful
implementation of this scheme. In order to make people aware about
the provision of this scheme CSOs should initiate a campaign. At
the end he thanked the participants for their participation and
specially thanked the UPVAN staff for bringing out such a qualitative
report on such a lively topic and in such an opportune moment.
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