PANAJI
Goa government is all set to sign a contract with the Bengaluru-based Akshay Patra Foundation to commence supply of mid-day meal to around 5,000 students on a trial basis from the next academic year onwards. The contract is expected to be signed shortly.
The State government in August 2023 finalised Akshay Patra Foundation to supply mid-day meal in those schools, where currently no SGHs are providing meal. Akshay Patra is set to have been selected as an alternative to SHGs in case of emergencies.
Highly placed sources informed that the Directorate of Education in a communication to Akshay Patra Foundation has approved signing of contract by next month. Sources said that the foundation had asked for six-month time to set up the kitchen and other infrastructure.
Sources said that on a trial basis, the government will ask the Foundation to supply meals to around 5,000 students from the new academic year onwards. “There are certain schools identified by us, where there were issues pertaining to the quality of the food. We will start with those schools initially,” sources said adding, ‘several school heads have approached the department expressing their willingness to take Akshay Patra onboard for supply of mid-day meal to their students’.
Last year in August, the Directorate of Education had renewed a one-year contract with 98 SHGs and nine Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), who are currently supplying the meal to 1.60 lakh students across Goa.
“The government has repeatedly made it clear that the government will go ahead with the services of the SHGs and there is no question of terminating their services for now,” sources said.
Following directions from the Union Education Ministry, the DoE had last year invited online bid applications from CSO/ NGOs working in India to supply ‘freshly hot cooked Mid-Day-Meal to the children of Pre-Primary, Primary, and Upper Primary classes studying in its Govt and Govt Aided Schools.’
Total five agencies were shortlisted by the DoE that included Bengaluru-based Akshay Patra Foundation, Delhi-based Stri Shakti Foundation Ghanashyam Seva Samiti, Kendriya Bhandar-Mumbai and National Federation of Farmers.
Payments to SHGs pending due to non-submission of bills: Edu Dept
PANAJI: The Union Education Ministry has released its entire share of Rs 4 crore to Goa under the PM Poshan Scheme (mid-day meal), however pending submission of the bills from a large number of Self-Help Groups (SHG), the payment has not been released.
DoE has sent reminders to the SHG directing them to submit the bills, which are pending for more than six to seven months. “Despite directions to submit the bills on 5th of every subsequent month, there is prolonged delay in submissions of the bills,” sources said adding that the pending dues could be around Rs 80 lakh.
“The department has kept sanction orders ready for those SHGs who have submitted the bills. However, the amount, released by Centre, is yet to receive in their kitty,” sources said adding ‘the funds were released by Centre a week back and it takes time till State releases to our accounts’.
Sources said that as against the Central ratio of 60:40, Goa is the only State that pumps in more money on 50:50 basis.
