Ensure hygienic midday meal: Punjab govt

In the backdrop of the deaths from contaminated midday meal in Bihar, Punjab government today directed all authorities concerned to ensure maintenance of total hygiene in serving the food under the scheme.
The government said Principals and heads of schools would be personally accountable for ensuring hygenic midday meal.
Presiding over a meeting of all District Education Officers here, Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka asked all the officers to ensure smooth flow of midday meal besides proper monitoring of the scheme.
He warned the officers that strict action will be taken in case of any laxity or negligence on the part of school heads or principals.

The Education Minister said principals and school heads would ensure the daily cleanliness of kitchen and store where food is cooked and raw material, including pulses, flour are stored.
He said cooks and helpers should also pair their nails before cooking or serving the food besides tying up their hairs properly.

He said cooks would also have to ensure washing their hands before cooking.
Asking the officers to procure the cooking materials including flour and rice of high quality, Maluka said only high quality pulses and fresh vegetables should be cooked and served among students.
He said sealed refined oil of a reputed company besides iodine salt should be used.

Maluka said a campaign has been launched to monitor the hygiene and quality of midday meal.