Student-to-SHG ratio likely to be capped at 1,500; Akshaya Patra role may expand
PANAJI
The Goa government is considering a major reorganisation and reshuffling of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) engaged in the PM POSHAN (mid-day meal) scheme to ensure a viable student-to-SHG ratio and improve the quality of hot cooked meals served in schools.
Under the proposed restructuring, the government is looking at limiting the student coverage of each SHG/PTA to around 1,200 to 1,500 students, compared to the existing range of 1,200 to 4,000 students handled by individual groups. However, the new structure may not come into force from this year.
The move is also expected to expand the role of the Bengaluru-based Akshaya Patra Foundation, which supplied meals to around 2,500 students during the previous academic year and likely to continue in the current term too.
The PM POSHAN scheme provides one hot cooked meal on every school day to students studying in government and government-aided schools from Bal Vatika to Class VIII. During the last academic year, 107 SHGs and PTAs served meals to 1.58 lakh students across 1,224 schools, including 2,562 Bal Vatika students, 89,584 primary students and 64,801 upper primary students. The scheme operated for 238 working days.
Government sources confirmed that the proposal to reorganise the existing distribution network is being actively worked out. “The aim is to optimise efficiency and ensure a viable student-to-SHG ratio. This will also help in providing better quality food,” sources said.
The exercise will also focus on mapping SHGs with schools based on geographical proximity to ensure timely delivery of meals while reducing transportation delays and costs. “There have been complaints regarding food quality, including meals not being served hot. Routine quality checks are conducted through the FDA,” sources said.
Officials said the current workload distribution remains uneven, with some SHGs catering to up to 4,000 students. “We are trying to rationalise the system by reducing the number to around 1,200 to a maximum of 1,500 students. This will make operations more viable for the SHGs,” sources added confirming that the proposal is yet to be worked-out in detail.
The total expenditure under PM POSHAN in Goa during the previous academic year stood at Rs 35.51 crore, jointly shared by the Centre and the State government. Goa’s mandatory contribution under the scheme was Rs 13.25 crore.
The State contributes Rs 9.33 per student per day for pre-primary students and Rs 12 per student per meal for upper primary students.
In addition, the Centre allocated 4,506.48 metric tonnes of food grains for the academic year. The value of food grains allocated to Goa was estimated at Rs 16.11 crore, calculated at Rs 41.73 per kg for rice and Rs 29.80 per kg for wheat. Of this, Rs 14.99 crore is borne as subsidy by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Meanwhile, the Centre is also working on restructuring the PM POSHAN scheme at the national level, aimed at strengthening nutritional outcomes among children and promoting school attendance.
