Over 58% children not screened for health check-up during 2019-20

MDM scheme

Only 13% schools have School Nutrition Garden: MoE

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, Dec 23 (KNO): With no contingency plan to avoid any untoward incident, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has failed to conduct health screen checkup to 58 percent children while availing the perks of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme during the financial year 2019-20.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has said that only 42 percent of children have been screened under Health check-up in the region.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that the MoE in a Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting of MDM has said only 42 percent children of Jammu and Kashmir were screened under health check-up during 2019-20 and only 13 percent schools were having School Nutrition Garden (SNG).

However, the authorities from Jammu and Kashmir in a meeting with MoE have said “that health checkups and required medicines are being provided regularly to the children and cook cum helpers by the department of health.”

On asking for the details about the contingency plan to avoid any untoward incident, the JK authorities in a meeting told MoE, “As of now, there has been no contingency plan in place. However, the important phone numbers and instructions have been displayed on the main walls and boards of the school buildings to avoid any untoward incident.”

“Instructions have been given to the cooks and the dealing teachers to avoid any unhygienic activity or lapses while cooking and serving MDM to the children. Fresh water taps have been installed in the schools,” the officials said in the meeting.

It was also apprised that Health Department and Food Corporation Supply and Consumers Affairs (FCS&CA) department are being repeatedly requested for conducting regular meetings with education department and to ensure all safety measures be adopted to tackle any untoward incident—(KNO)